Gabon's President Ali Bongo has pledged to give his share of the inheritance from his father to charity. He added that his family would also hand over properties, including a villa in the capital and two homes in Paris, to the state.Bongo has led the central African oil producer since winning a 2009 election that followed the death of his father, longtime president Omar Bongo.Ali Bongo made the announcement in a speech broadcast on state-owned television late on Monday to mark the 55th anniversary of independence from France.He said the decision was in honour of his father."All the revenues from my share of the inheritance will go to a foundation for youth and education because everyone knows - and I say it again - that the youth were sacred in the eyes of President Omar Bongo Ondimba," he said.Omar Bongo's heirs had together agreed to hand over to the Gabonese state a villa in Libreville that would house a university, he added. The Bongo family's wealth is believed to include millions of dollars held in foreign bank accounts, real estate and stakes in Gabon's main industries.Gabon maintained excellent relations with France during Omar Bongo's four- decade rule under a system known as "Francafrique", whereby France gave political and military support to leaders of its former African colonies in exchange for business favours.France opened an investigation earlier this month into Bongo's chief of staff, Maixent Accrombessi, on suspicion he took a bribe from a French company that makes military uniforms. ..