Two killed in Togo clashes

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Lome - Two protesters were killed Saturday and two policemen badly hurt in an opposition demonstration on Saturday against the assumption of power by the son of Togo's late ruler Gnassingbe Eyadema, Interior Minister Francois Akila Esso Boko said.

At the same time, a government delegation headed to Niamey to answer a summons by regional leaders to justify the move to put Faure Gnassingbe in power or face immediate sanctions against the West African country.

But the 39-year-old leader was not in the party headed by Prime Minister Koffi Sama, despite the invitation by five presidents from the Economic Community of West African States (Ecowas) to appear in person in the Niger capital.

Around midday clashes were still going on across the Be district, an opposition stronghold, between demonstrators and police and paramilitary gendarmes backed by troops.

News24.com

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1. Mbeki slams Togo 'charade'

Cape Town - South African President Thabo Mbeki on Friday criticised the "unconstitutional charade" in Togo and said it underscored the need to do more to resolve the crisis in Ivory Coast.

In his annual state of the nation address, Mbeki said it was his "fervent wish" that leaders in Ivory Coast settle their differences and that a presidential election be held in October "in a unified country".

"The current unconstitutional charade in Togo, following the death of President Eyadema, which Ecowas (West African countries) and the African Union are confronting firmly, adds to the instability in west Africa," said Mbeki in the address delivered at parliament in Cape Town.

"This must communicate the message to the people of Cote d'Ivoire and the rest of our continent that everything must be done to solve the Ivorian crisis, given the importance of this country, which has the third largest economy in sub-Saharan Africa," he said.


http://www.news24.com/News24/Africa/News/0,,2-11-1447_1661121,00.html

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2. Togo: Talk or sanctions

Cotonou - Togo's new military-installed regime will face immediate sanctions if it refuses to meet on Saturday with the head of the west African regional grouping Ecowas, the bloc said in a statement released here.

Regional leaders had earlier cancelled a visit to Togo designed as a warning to new leader Faure Gnassingbe, and instead demanded that his regime meet in Niamey with President Mamadou Tandja of Niger, chairman of the Economic Community of West African States.

"If the Togolese authorities do not respond favourably to this invitation on February 12, 2005 they will expose themselves to immediate Ecowas sanctions," the Economic Community of West African States said in the statement.

Faure was installed as president of Togo by the country's army on Saturday after the death of his father, President Gnassingbe Eyadema. His elevation was in breach of the constitution and attracted widespread international concern.


http://www.news24.com/News24/Africa/News/0,,2-11-1447_1661287,00.html

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3. Togolese ministers head for showdown in Niger

Lome, Togo - Togolese officials left on Saturday for Niamey in response to an ultimatum by West African leaders to justify the constitutional manoeuvre that put Faure Gnassingbe into power on the death of his father a week ago.

But Gnassingbe himself was absent from the party despite a call by five presidents from the Economic Community of West African States that he appear in person or face immediate sanctions against his country.

A source close to the presidency said the delegation was led by Prime Minister Koffi Sama and included Environment Minister Zoumarou Gnonfame, former presidential adviser Moussa Barquet, the head of the ruling Togolese People's Rally, Dama Dramani, a member of the constitutional court and two senior military officers.

http://www.iol.co.za/index.php?set_id=1&click_id=86&art_id=qw1108207444731B232