- Title: TOGO: FAURE GNASSINGBE SWORN IN AS NEW PRESIDENT
- Date: 6th May 2005
- Summary: (W5) LOME, TOGO (APRIL 4, 2005) (REUTERS) 1. SLV LOME CONGRESS PALACE BUILDING WITH SOLDIERS IN FOREGROUND 0.02 2. HAS ARRIVAL OF NEW PRESIDENT FAURE GNASSINGBE 0.09 3. MV FAURE GNASSINGBE WITH CONSTITUTIONAL COURT; ATSOU-KOFFI AMEGAH, CHAIRMAN OF TOGO'S CONSTITUTIONAL COURT, DURING SWEARING-IN CEREMONY; FAURE GNASSINGBE IN FRONT OF MEMBERS OF CONSTITUTIONAL COURT, SWEARING IN CEREMONY; FAURE GNASSINGBE SWORN IN AS PRESIDENT, PEOPLE APPLAUDING; WOMEN SINGING; FAURE GNASSINGBE RECEIVING MILITARY SALUTE 1.02 Initials Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved
- Embargoed: 21st May 2005 13:00
- Keywords:
- Location: LOME, TOGO
- Country: Togo
- Reuters ID: LVA8MQC14UUSZP6ZK5N1TGZZIR9G
- Story Text: Togo's Gnassingbe sworn in as new president.
Faure Gnassingbe was sworn in as Togo's new
president on Wednesday (April 4, 2005), 10 days after a disputed
presidential poll to choose his father's successor
triggered riots in which some 100 people were killed.
The U.N. refugee agency UNHCR says people are still
fleeing to neighbouring Ghana and Benin with numbers of
refugees topping 20,000 on Wednesday, up from 18,500 on
Tuesday.
"Before God and before the Togolese people I, Faure
Gnassingbe, elected president of the republic, solemnly
swear to respect and defend the constitution," Gnassingbe
said in his formal inauguration ceremony in front of judges
and diplomats.
The 39-year-old succeeds his father, Gnassingbe
Eyadema, who ruled the tiny West African country for 38
years to become the continent's longest-serving leader
before his death in February.
It was the second time this year that Gnassingbe has
taken a formal oath of office -- the first time was just
days after his father's death on Feb. 5 when the army
decided to name him president, saying they feared a
dangerous political vacuum.
Gnassingbe eventually stepped down and called elections
after violent street protests and international sanctions.
On Tuesday (April 3), Togo's constitutional court
confirmed Gnassingbe as the winner of the April 24 election
with just over 60 percent of the vote, against 38 percent
for the opposition candidate, 74-year-old Emmanuel
Akitani-Bob.
The release of provisional results by the electoral
commission last week sparked days of street battles between
opposition activists, who say their candidate was cheated
of victory, and security forces. Western diplomats have
given a death toll of around 100 for the violence.
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