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LIBREVILLE, Sept 22 (Reuters) - Gabon oil workers will stayat home from Thursday over concerns about potential violencewhen a court delivers a final verdict on the central Africancountry's disputed election result, their union said.
The statement, signed by the union's deputy secretarygeneral, Sylvain Mayabi Binet, added that the minimum service atGabon oil installations will be assured by "expatriate staffwhose families are not exposed to the danger of likely unrest".
Riots erupted after results from an Aug. 27 election handedvictory to incumbent President Ali Bongo by fewer than 6,000votes, extending a half-century dynasty that has been in placesince his father took power in 1967.
Presidential rival Jean Ping has denounced the poll as afraud and the Constitutional Court has until Friday to decide onPing's complaint.
Gabon produces around 200,000 barrels a day, its mainproducers being Total and Shell.
"If there is a refusal to secure installations ... theworkers will leave them at the employer's risk," Binet said,adding: "Forcing workers to stay on site, against their will ...would be to expose installations to all kinds of risks."
Authorities are stepping up security in the capitalLibreville, where much of this month's violence occurred.
They warned opposition leader Jean Ping on Wednesday thathe risked arrest if unrest resumes when the Constitutional Courtrules on his challenge. (Reporting by Gerauds Wilfried Obangome; Writing by Tim Cocks;Editing by David Goodman)