- Title: TOGO: TOGOLESE VOTE IN PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS AMID FEARS OF VIOLENCE
- Date: 24th April 2005
- Summary: (BN10) LOME, TOGO (APRIL 24, 2005) (REUTERS) 1. VARIOUS OF PEOPLE QUEUING OUTSIDE POLLING STATION/ SECURITY (2 SHOTS) 0.07 2. MAIN CANDIDATE FAURE GNASSINGBE ARRIVING AT POLLING STATION (SCHOOL) 0.10 3. PEOPLE CHEERING 0.13 4. GNASSINGBE VOTING 0.19 5. SV/CU: ARMED ELECTION GUARDS STANDING OUTSIDE POLLING STATION (2 SHOTS) 0.25 5. INTERIM PRESIDENT ABBASS BONFOH VOTING 0.31 (W3) LOME, TOGO (APRIL 24, 2005) (REUTERS) 6. VARIOUS OF CANDIDATE EMMANUEL AKITANI-BOB ARRIVING AND VOTING; CROWDS CHEERING (3 SHOTS) 0.49 7. CROWDS CHEERING AS AKITANI-BOB LEAVES 0.57 (BN11) LOME, TOGO (APRIL 24, 2005) (REUTERS) 8. VARIOUS OF PEOPLE QUEUEING TO VOTE (2 SHOTS) 1.03 9. WOMAN PUTTING BALLOT PAPER INTO BALLOT BOX 1.08 10. OFFICIAL CHECKING REGISTER 1.11 11. WOMAN WALKING FROM POLLING BOOTH AND PLACING BALLOT PAPER IN BALLOT BOX 1.18 12. SLV/MV: MORE OF PEOPLE QUEUEING TO VOTE (2 SHOTS) 1.23 Initials Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved
- Embargoed: 9th May 2005 13:00
- Keywords:
- Location: LOME, TOGO
- Country: Togo
- Reuters ID: LVAF0T00A2R0IVL6M8M8ARWYVIRX
- Story Text: Togolese vote in presidential election.
Togo voted for a new president on Sunday (April 24) in a
poll meant to resolve a political crisis after the death of the
West African country's long-serving ruler but that has instead
stoked fears of violence.
An opposition coalition of six parties believes it will win the
election despite what it says are attempts to rig the poll by the ruling
party of former President Gnassingbe Eyadema, who died in February
after 38 years in office.
Eyadema's 39-year old son Faure Gnassingbe, the ruling party's
candidate, said he was confident the vote would pass off smoothly,
despite violent clashes between rival activists in the run-up to the poll.
Polls opened at 0630 GMT. Long queues snaked outside polling
stations in the capital Lome, particularly in the opposition
stronghold of Be where the late arrival of electoral material
delayed the start of voting in some centres.
Gnassingbe was named president by the army when his father died
but agreed to step down and hold polls after his appointment
provoked an international outcry.
The opposition coalition has named a single candidate, Emmanuel
Akitani-Bob, 74, to challenge Gnassingbe. Weeks of opposition
protests demanding a delay and deadly battles between rival
supporters armed with machetes have fuelled fears of an
explosion of violence, especially if Gnassingbe is declared
the winner -- as most analysts expect.
The opposition has denounced big irregularities in the run-up
to the polls but says it is confident it will prevail.
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