Sylvia Bongo, wife of ousted Gabonese President Ali Bongo, is being held in pre-trial detention on allegations of the embezzlement of public funds, her lawyer says.

She had been under house arrest since the 30 August coup.

But after a long hearing in front of a judge it was decided that she should be detained in jail.

Her lawyer, Francois Zimeray, criticized the decision and is quoted as calling it arbitrary and illegal.

Mrs Bongo is facing charges of money laundering, forgery and the falsification of documents.

She has not made any public comment on the charges.