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LOME, Togo (AP) - The son of Togo's longtime dictator has been elected to succeed him as leader of this impoverished West African country, officials said Tuesday - an outcome that sparked street fights between security forces and opposition supporters who burned barricades in the capital. Faure Gnassingbe, 39, won 60 per cent, or 1.3 million, of the votes cast in Sunday's violence-scarred election, said electoral commission chairwoman Kissem Tchangai Walla. Main opposition candidate Bob Akitani received 38 per cent, or 841,000 votes, she said. "I'm very happy with these results," said Komi Koassou, campaign director for Gnassingbe's party....

[ This report does not necessarily reflect the views of the United Nations] LOME, 22 Apr 2005 (IRIN) - The holding of presidential elections in Togo on Sunday is in doubt following a surprise call by the interior minister for the controversial poll to be suspended to prevent the West African country from degenerating into bloody conflict. Interior Minister Francois Boko told a late night press conference on Thursday that Togo was heading for a “suicidal electoral process” given the high levels of violence which have marked the campaign so far. Boko, who is in charge of internal security,...

LOME, Feb. 26 (Xinhuanet) -- Togo's military-installed President Faure Gnassingbe on Friday evening announced his decision to step down and run for president in April elections, mitigating a three-week political crisis gripping the African country. Hours after his declaration, UN spokesman Fred Eckhard said UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan welcomed Gnassingbe's resignation. Early Saturday, the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) said it would immediately drop sanctions against Togo. On the same day, the African Union (AU), which had just declared sanctions against Togo on Friday, welcomed Gnassingbe's resignation, praising it as paving way for restoration of the ruleof the...

http://www.kansascity.com/mld/kansascity/news/world/10955491.htm?1c Many Africans see U.S. as distant saviorBRYAN MEALERAssociated Press LOME, Togo - As President Bush visits Europe this week, he is up against a continent brimming with hostile public opinion. But while Americans have grown used to being condemned as global bullies, at least one region has people looking to them for salvation.For many of the young people who take to the streets in protest in Lome and other blighted, overlooked capitals across Africa, only one distant power seems great enough to defeat the local forces of tyranny: the U.S. military."Tell George Bush to send us guns," young...

LOME, Togo - As President Bush (news - web sites) visits Europe this week, he is up against a continent brimming with hostile public opinion. But while Americans have grown used to being condemned as global bullies, at least one region has people looking to them for salvation. For many of the young people who take to the streets in protest in Lome and other blighted, overlooked capitals across Africa, only one distant power seems great enough to defeat the local forces of tyranny: the U.S. military. "Tell George Bush (news - web sites) to send us guns," young protesters...

Togo: Washington asks for the resignation of Faure Gnassingbé WASHINGTON - the United States does not recognize the legitimacy of the invested president of Togo, Faure Gnassingbé, and claims its immediate resignation, declared Saturday the State Department. "the United States does not regard as legitimate the designation of Mr. Gnassingbé like chair invested and invites it to resign immediately", said the spokesman of the State Department Richard Boucher in an official statement. It added that Washington supported the economic Community of the States of West Africa (CEDEAO, 15 country) which suspended Togo of the regional group.