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Cameroon's Minister of the Interior Paul Atanga Nji has stated that political opponent Issa Tchiroma Bakary will face legal action over accusations that he provoked "aggressive election protests".

No fewer than 4 demonstrators have been lost their lives during skirmishes between police and military and opposition supporters since Cameroon's election on October 12, with 92-year-old President Paul Biya securing an eighth consecutive term.

The opposition leader asserts that he was the true winner, a assertion rejected by the incumbent party, the CPDM.

Forceful measures by police and security officers on demonstrators have worried the international community, with the United Nations, AU and EU demanding restraint.

Minister's Accusations

Earlier this week, the interior minister accused the opposition figure of organising what he labeled "illegal" demonstrations causing the deaths, and also rebuked him for claiming win in the electoral contest.

He added that the opposition leader's "accomplices responsible for an subversive plot" will also be prosecuted.

Poll Figures

Cameroon's leader, who came to power in the early 80s and is now the world's oldest head of state, obtained the 12 October presidential election with over half of the ballots, compared to a significant minority for his opponent, according to the electoral authority.

Challenger's Position

Tchiroma Bakary is remains silent to the government's decision to prosecute him, but he had before stated that he would not accept a fraudulent outcome - and that he was fearless of being detained.

When results were announced, he reported that gunmen used lethal force on demonstrators gathered near his residence in Garoua, killing at least two individuals.

Investigation Launched

On Tuesday, the government official disclosed that an probe would be launched into unrest before and after the publication of the poll figures.

"During these attacks, some of the criminals were killed," he commented, without offering a specific number of demonstrators who have been fatally injured in the confrontations.

Nji noted that multiple officers of the police and military also suffered significant wounds.

Present Conditions

Even though Nji maintained the situation across the country was now under control, demonstrators are still demonstrating in some parts of the nation, especially in Douala and Garoua, where demonstrators established barricades on that day, and burnt rubber on the streets.

Observers caution that the election-related unrest could push the nation into a political crisis.