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Cameroon's Interior Minister the interior minister has announced that opposition leader Issa Tchiroma Bakary will be prosecuted over accusations that he instigated "violent electoral rallies".

A minimum of 4 demonstrators have been fatally wounded during confrontations between law enforcement and opposition supporters since the electoral process on 12 October, with President Paul Biya, aged 92 obtaining an eighth consecutive term.

The opposition leader maintains that he won the election, a assertion disputed by Biya's ruling party, the CPDM.

Violent crackdowns by police and security officers on demonstrators have alarmed the international community, with the United Nations, AU and European Union calling for caution.

Official's Allegations

Recently, the interior minister accused the opposition figure of organising what he described as "illegal" protests causing the loss of lives, and also rebuked him for declaring victory in the electoral contest.

He noted that Tchiroma Bakary's "co-conspirators involved in an rebellious scheme" will also face legal action.

Poll Figures

The president, who took control in 1982 and is now the oldest serving president, secured the 12 October vote with a majority of the vote, compared to just over a third for Tchiroma Bakary, according to the constitutional court.

Leader's Stance

The opposition figure is yet to respond to the authorities' move to try him, but he had earlier stated that he refused to acknowledge a fraudulent outcome - and that he was not afraid of being arrested.

Following the vote count, he said that gunmen shot on protesters present near his house in Garoua, killing at least 2 people.

Investigation Revealed

Earlier this week, the government official announced that an probe would be launched into clashes prior to and following the declaration of the election results.

"Throughout the violence, some of the individuals involved were killed," he said, without giving a specific number of demonstrators who have been fatally injured in the clashes.

The minister added that a number of personnel of the law enforcement also suffered major harm.

Present Conditions

While the interior minister asserted the situation across the country was now manageable, protesters continue to protest in some parts of the nation, especially in these two cities, where protesters established roadblocks on that day, and set fire to tyres on the thoroughfares.

Experts caution that the political turmoil could plunge the nation into a governmental instability.