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Cameroon's Minister of the Interior the interior minister has announced that political opponent Issa Tchiroma Bakary will face legal action over allegations that he instigated "violent electoral rallies".

At least 4 protesters have been killed during skirmishes between law enforcement and demonstrators since Cameroon's election on October 12, with President Paul Biya, aged 92 obtaining an eighth consecutive term.

Tchiroma Bakary insists that he emerged victorious, a claim dismissed by the governing party, the Cameroon People's Democratic Movement (CPDM).

Aggressive responses by law enforcement on protesters have concerned the world leaders, with the UN, AU and European Union urging moderation.

Minister's Allegations

On Tuesday, the interior minister charged the opposition figure of coordinating what he labeled "illegal" rallies resulting in the deaths, and also rebuked him for declaring victory in the electoral contest.

He noted that Tchiroma Bakary's "accomplices responsible for an subversive plot" will also be prosecuted.

Vote Outcome

Paul Biya, who assumed office in 1982 and is now the world's oldest head of state, secured the October 12 election with a majority of the ballots, compared to just over a third for Tchiroma Bakary, according to the constitutional court.

Opposition Response

The opposition figure is has not yet commented to the government's decision to prosecute him, but he had previously declared that he rejected a fraudulent outcome - and that he was undaunted of being taken into custody.

On election result day, he reported that armed men used lethal force on demonstrators assembled near his house in the city of Garoua, causing the death of at least 2 people.

Probe Launched

Recently, the government official disclosed that an inquiry would be started into violent incidents surrounding the publication of the vote outcome.

"Throughout the violence, some of the perpetrators were killed," he stated, without providing a specific number of demonstrators who have been lost their lives in the clashes.

The minister noted that multiple personnel of the law enforcement also suffered serious injuries.

Current Situation

Although the interior minister maintained the state of affairs nationwide was now under control, demonstrators are still demonstrating in some parts of the nation, especially in urban centers, where protesters established roadblocks on Tuesday, and set fire to rubber on the streets.

Analysts warn that the political turmoil could plunge the nation into a leadership vacuum.