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The nation's Interior Minister Paul Atanga Nji has declared that political opponent Issa Tchiroma Bakary will undergo legal proceedings over accusations that he provoked "violent post-election demonstrations".

At least 4 demonstrators have been killed during clashes between police and military and demonstrators since the presidential election on 12 October, with President Paul Biya, aged 92 obtaining an eighth consecutive term.

Tchiroma Bakary insists that he won the election, a claim rejected by the incumbent party, the ruling CPDM.

Forceful measures by law enforcement on demonstrators have alarmed the global community, with the UN, AU and European Union demanding caution.

Official's Allegations

Recently, Nji charged the opposition figure of organising what he referred to as "unauthorized" demonstrations leading to the loss of lives, and also condemned him for announcing success in the presidential race.

He noted that the opposition leader's "associates behind an insurrectionary plan" will also undergo judicial processes.

Poll Figures

The president, who assumed office in 1982 and is now the most elderly national leader, obtained the 12 October presidential election with 53.7% of the vote, compared to a significant minority for Tchiroma Bakary, according to the constitutional court.

Opposition Response

Issa Tchiroma is yet to respond to the government's decision to prosecute him, but he had earlier announced that he would not accept a fraudulent outcome - and that he was not afraid of being arrested.

On election result day, he claimed that gunmen shot on demonstrators gathered near his residence in the city of Garoua, killing at least two civilians.

Inquiry Announced

Earlier this week, the government official announced that an investigation would be initiated into violent incidents before and after the publication of the poll figures.

"In the course of these incidents, some of the individuals involved were killed," he commented, without giving a specific number of protesters who have been killed in the confrontations.

The minister further mentioned that a number of officers of the law enforcement also suffered significant wounds.

Present Conditions

Even though Nji maintained the situation throughout Cameroon was now under control, protesters remain active in various areas of the nation, especially in urban centers, where demonstrators mounted roadblocks on Tuesday, and ignited rubber on the roads.

Experts warn that the political turmoil could plunge the country into a political crisis.