Story highlights Gabon opposition leader Jean Ping lost presidential bid by less than 6,000 votesHe's demanding a vote recount after August election favored incumbent Ali Bongo(CNN) Gabon opposition leader Jean Ping has appealed to the country's highest court contesting last month's presidential election -- results that have led to deadly violence with opposition supporters protesting in the central African nation. Ping lodged a complaint Thursday with the Constitutional Court, his campaign team told CNN, demanding a vote recount. "I am committed to defend the vote of Gabon," Ping said in a statement after meeting Friday with supporters in Libreville, the capital. "If the Gabonese people do not recognize themselves in the decision handed down by the Constitutional Court, I will stand by their side, by the side of the people to demand they respect Article 9 of the constitution that states unambiguously that the election of the president of the republic is gained by the candidate who obtains the most votes," he said. Ping, a diplomat and former African Union official, lost the presidential bid to incumbent Ali Bongo by less than 6,000 votes, according to figures from the country's electoral commission.

Source: CNN September 10, 2016 14:15 UTC