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The nation's Minister of the Interior Paul Atanga Nji has declared that political opponent Tchiroma Bakary will be prosecuted over accusations that he provoked "aggressive election protests".

At least four demonstrators have been lost their lives during confrontations between law enforcement and protesters since Cameroon's election on 12 October, with 92-year-old President Paul Biya securing an eighth presidential mandate.

Tchiroma Bakary maintains that he won the election, a assertion rejected by the governing party, the CPDM.

Forceful measures by law enforcement on demonstrators have concerned the international community, with the United Nations, AU and EU calling for restraint.

Minister's Accusations

Recently, the interior minister alleged the opposition figure of organising what he labeled "illegal" rallies causing the fatalities, and also criticised him for announcing success in the electoral contest.

He added that the opposition leader's "co-conspirators involved in an insurrectionary plan" will also undergo judicial processes.

Election Results

The president, who came to power in 1982 and is now the world's oldest head of state, won the 12 October presidential election with over half of the votes, compared to 35.2% for the challenger, according to Cameroon's Constitutional Council.

Challenger's Position

The opposition figure is yet to respond to the government's decision to prosecute him, but he had earlier announced that he refused to acknowledge a fraudulent outcome - and that he was undaunted of being arrested.

Following the vote count, he reported that security forces shot on protesters present near his residence in Garoua, fatally wounding at least two people.

Inquiry Announced

Earlier this week, the government official announced that an inquiry would be launched into clashes prior to and following the declaration of the vote outcome.

"Throughout the violence, some of the perpetrators were killed," he commented, without offering a specific number of demonstrators who have been fatally injured in the clashes.

The minister further mentioned that a number of officers of the police and military also suffered significant wounds.

Present Conditions

While the interior minister insisted the situation across the country was now under control, demonstrators remain active in some parts of the nation, especially in Douala and Garoua, where protesters established barricades on Tuesday, and burnt tires on the streets.

Experts alert that the post-electoral violence could plunge the nation into a governmental instability.