France, Dec. 1 -- Ekane, 74, leader of the African Movement for New Independence and Democracy (Manidem) party, was arrested on 24 October in Douala following post-election demonstrations in what his party described as a "kidnapping" by Cameroonian soldiers.

He was being held at a military garrison in the capital Yaounde on charges of hostility against the state, incitement to revolt, and calls for insurrection - accusations he denied.

Ekane was among opposition figures who objected to the result of the 12 October election in which Paul Biya, the world's oldest president at 92, was declared the winner of another term.

Rival candidate Issa Tchiroma Bakary claimed to have won and has called on Cameroonians to reject the official result....