TOGO: OPPOSITION SUPPORTERS CLASH WITH SECURITY FORCES AFTER TENSE PRESIDENTIAL POLL.

Record ID: 648128

  • Title: TOGO: OPPOSITION SUPPORTERS CLASH WITH SECURITY FORCES AFTER TENSE PRESIDENTIAL POLL.
  • Date: 25th April 2005
  • Summary: (BN03) LOME, TOGO (APRIL 24, 2005) (REUTERS) 1. GV/MV/CU: CAR BURNING WITH POLICEMEN; OPPOSITION SUPPORTERS AND OTHERS LOOKING ON (6 SHOTS) 0.20 2. MV/CU: FIREMAN EXTINGUISHING FIRE WITH WATER PUMP; OPPOSITION FACTIONS PLAYING WITH WATER PUMP (2 SHOTS) 0.28 3. GV/MV/CU: OPPOSITION FACTIONS WITH WOODEN CLUBS WALKING IN THE STREET; OPPOSITION FACTIONS SURROUNDING A MAN SUSPECTED OF COMMITTING ELECTORAL FRAUD (2 SHOTS) 0.41 4. GV: INJURED MAN WITH BLOOD ON T-SHIRT SAT ON THE GROUND 0.45 5. GV/MV: POLICEMAN IN MIDDLE OF THE CROWD; RED CROSS CAR LEAVING THE SCENE (2 SHOTS) 0.55 6. GV/MV: OPPOSITION MAN ROLLING TYRE AROUND THE ROAD BLOCKS; GROUP OF MEN MOVING PART OF A TREE INTO FIRE; MAN WITH TYRE BURNING (3 SHOTS) 1.09 7. GV: OPPOSITION FACTIONS RUNNING, SMOKE IN BACKGROUND; OPPOSITION FACTIONS WITH STONES AND CLUBS CHANTING "WE WANT CHANGE" (2 SHOTS) 1.20 8. MV: MAN PUSHING TYRE INTO FIRE WITH A STICK 1.24 Initials Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved
  • Embargoed: 10th May 2005 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: LOME, TOGO
  • Country: Togo
  • Reuters ID: LVA99QXB7SYRKW63LN800D49TCZL
  • Story Text: Security forces and opposition supporters in Togo
    clashed at the end of a tense day of voting for a new
    president.



    Security forces and opposition supporters in Togo
    clashed on Sunday (April 24) at the end of a tense day of
    voting for a new president and there were fears of more
    street violence when the winner is declared.

    The poll pitted Faure Gnassingbe, the 39-year-old son
    of Togo's former president Gnassingbe Eyadema, against a
    coalition of six opposition parties and effectively became
    a referendum on four decades of repressive rule by
    Eyadema's northern clan.

    As night fell in the capital, barricades of burning
    tyres clogged a road leading to opposition strongholds,
    heavily-armed soldiers patrolled in pickups with mounted
    machineguns and both sides accused each other of fraud and
    intimidation.

    Gnassingbe was named president by the army, in
    violation of the constitution, when his father died on
    February 5 but agreed to step down and hold polls after an
    international outcry.

    Togo acts as a port for landlocked neighbours in the
    region and African leaders, eager to improve the
    continent's image, are keen for a peaceful and democratic
    resolution to the crisis.

    While there was no general explosion of violence,
    hospital workers and party officials said at least 20
    people were hurt, including two ruling party militants with
    machete wounds and five people who were shot in the
    opposition stronghold of Be.

    Residents said the security forces who had come to take
    away ballot boxes in Be fired tear gas at opposition
    demonstrators.

    A doctor at a clinic in Be said he had received four
    injured, two with serious gunshot wounds. A nurse at a
    hospital in Be said 14 people were treated for injuries --
    supporters from both sides and election officials --
    including three who had been shot.



  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
  • Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2015. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
  • Usage Terms/Restrictions: None
Register