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The nation's Interior Minister Paul Atanga Nji has declared that opposition leader Issa Tchiroma Bakary will be prosecuted over accusations that he instigated "violent post-election demonstrations".

No fewer than four protesters have been killed during clashes between law enforcement and protesters since the presidential election on 12 October, with the 92-year-old head of state securing an eighth presidential mandate.

Tchiroma Bakary maintains that he was the true winner, a statement dismissed by the governing party, the Cameroon People's Democratic Movement (CPDM).

Aggressive responses by police and security officers on protesters have alarmed the global community, with the UN, AU and EU demanding moderation.

Minister's Claims

On Tuesday, the interior minister accused the opposition figure of organising what he referred to as "unlawful" rallies causing the deaths, and also criticised him for declaring victory in the election.

He noted that the opposition leader's "associates responsible for an subversive plot" will also face legal action.

Vote Outcome

The president, who came to power in 1982 and is now the most elderly national leader, obtained the 12 October presidential election with a majority of the votes, compared to 35.2% for his opponent, according to the constitutional court.

Leader's Stance

Issa Tchiroma is yet to respond to the government's decision to prosecute him, but he had before announced that he would not accept a fraudulent outcome - and that he was fearless of being taken into custody.

When results were announced, he reported that security forces opened fire on demonstrators present near his residence in Garoua, killing at least 2 individuals.

Investigation Announced

On Tuesday, the government official disclosed that an inquiry would be launched into violent incidents prior to and following the announcement of the vote outcome.

"During these attacks, some of the perpetrators died," he commented, without giving a precise figure of demonstrators who have been fatally injured in the confrontations.

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

Current Situation

Although Nji insisted the situation nationwide was now stable, protesters are still demonstrating in certain regions of the country, especially in these two cities, where demonstrators set up roadblocks on that day, and burnt tyres on the thoroughfares.

Observers caution that the election-related unrest could push the country into a governmental instability.