Togolese troops of the 2010 Presidential Election Special Force (FOSEP) have dispersed supporters of opposition leader Jean Pierre Fabre, who wanted to demonstrate in the streets of Lome against what they claim where “fraudulent results” of the March presidential election.
Few hundred supporters responded to the call of Jean Pierre Fabre, the Union of Forces for Change (UFC) presidential candidate.
Fabre, who scored 33.9% against 60.9% for incumbent President Faure Gnassingbe, rejects the results of the 4 March presidential election.
His supporters faced the police in helmets and armed with batons and tear gas.
The troops blocked all access to the Kodjindji square in the most populous area of the capital.
However, the opposition supporters did not stop chanting “Fabre President,” “Change” and “We want a new president.”
The clash lasted two hours before the police scattered the demonstrators with tear gas.
The protesters responded by throwing stones and burning two old cars. In early afternoon, traffic resumed in the area but the security apparatus is still in place.
Reports indicate that the center where the UFC was tallying the data of the polls was attacked.
Moreover, FOSEP were deployed in several strategic points of the Togolese capital.
The authorities cited security reasons for banning the protest march and also criticized the opposition for having organized it on a working day instead of the weekend.
Source African Press Agency
African News from NetNewsPublisher.com
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