Hackers in Russia claim to shut down African Cup website

A group of hackers in Russia say they have shut down the website of the African Cup of Nations soccer tournament in protest for holding it in Gabon, where President Ali Bongo Ondimba retained power in disputed and violent elections last year.

A person sent an email to The Associated Press on Saturday claiming the group New World Hackers had “taken down” the website.

“We did this in protest against Gabon,” the person claiming to be one of the hackers wrote in an email.

“They are running the Africa Cup in a country where the dictator Ali Bongo is killing innocent people!”