Gabon pulls top bank official home in losses probe

LIBREVILLE (Reuters) - Gabon recalled late on Monday the official heading the Bank of Central African States (BEAC) after an investigation was launched into a reported 40 million euros of losses at the institution.

The decision to recall Philibert Andzembe was taken at the first cabinet meeting of President Ali Ben Bongo since he took over from his late father Omar last week.

A statement issued after the meeting also pledged to "have arrested any Gabonese officials allegedly implicated and resident on national territory".

The BEAC issues the single currency and defines monetary policy for the mainly oil-producing states of Gabon, Equatorial Guinea, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad and Congo Republic. Its headquarters is in Cameroon's capital Yaounde with a delegation office in Paris.

A ministerial meeting of bank member states pledged last month to shed light on the nature of the losses made by the bank, where an auditing committee is already investigating alleged embezzlement of finances during the 2004-2008 period.

Andzembe began work as BEAC governor in July 2007.