GABON TO SCRAP DEATH PENALTY

Gabon became the latest country to move towards scrapping the death penalty ahead of a resolution on a global moratorium to be put before the UN General Assembly.
Gabon's cabinet said it decided to scrap the death penalty after noting that no executions have been carried out in the west African country for more than 20 years, and following a request from President Omar bongo Ondimba.
Gabon will co-sponsor a resolution on a global moratorium on executions to be introduced at the UN General Assembly later this month, it said.