LIBREVILLE, Sept. 5 (Xinhua) -- The president of Gabon's constitutional court, Marie Madeleine Mborantusuo, on Friday confirmed the official results of the Aug. 30 elections, legalizing the victory of Ali Bongo Ondimba in the presidential vote.

    The Interior Ministry had previously published the results showing Ali Bongo scored 41.73 percent of the total votes, against25.88 percent for independent candidate Andre Mba Obame and 25.22 percent for opposition candidate Pierre Mamboundou.

    Separately, Ali Bongo obtained 141,952 votes, Obame got 88,026 votes and Mamboundou had 85,797 votes, according to the court. The figures are the same as those published on Thursday by Interior Minister Jean Francois Ndongou.

    The court also said that out of the 807,402 registered voters, 357,621 cast their ballots in the election. Excluding the 17,441 spoiled votes, the others are valid, representing 44.24 percent of total participation

    The main challengers of Ali Bongo have contested the results, announcing their intention to appeal at the constitutional court. According to the electoral law of Gabon, they have a time limit of 10 days to file an appeal.

    Violence erupted in some towns of the country immediately after Thursday's announcement of the results. Vehicles were burned down, shops looted and garbage cans overturned on the streets. The worst protests were witnessed in Port-Gentil, the economic capital of the country.

    In the country's second largest city, demonstrators burnt down the central prison and released it inmates. They also set ablaze the general consulate of France, attacked the petrol stations belonging to the French company Total and looted boutiques. Soldiers were brought in for security reinforcement in this petroleum city that voted for the opposition.

    Ali Bongo has already given a public address, vowing to be the president for all the people of Gabon. On Friday morning, he paid a visit to the players of the national team preparing for a decisive match against Cameroon, which will be open in the Gabonese capital Libreville on Saturday. It will be an elimination match for the Africa Cup and the World Cup in 2010.