22/07/2005

Togo leaders commit to peace

Togo's President Faure Gnassingbe and an exiled opposition leader have agreed to condemn and stop violence in the troubled country.

Rome - Togo's President Faure Gnassingbe and an exiled opposition leader have agreed to condemn and stop violence in the troubled West African country after secret talks in Rome, according to a joint statement released on Friday.

A spokesperson for the Rome-based group said, Gnassingbe, elected on April 24 in a disputed poll, met with opposition leader Gilchrist Olympio, at the invitation of the Sant'Egidio religious community on Thursday.

A joint statement said the two men had agreed "to condemn and stop violence, whatever its origin" and to free so-called political "opinion" prisoners arrested during the election campaign.

Wave of unrest

The two leaders issued a joint appeal for refugees to return and pledged "to work jointly to invite the international community to support their return".

The death of Gnassingbe's father, the long-ruling strongman Gnassingbe Eyadema on February 5 was followed by a wave of unrest as the army and ruling party tried to install his son, Faure Gnassingbe, into the presidency.

International pressure forced Lome to call a presidential election in late April, but the opposition disputed the results, which made Gnassingbe the winner with some 60% of the vote.

More than 22 000 people had fled Togo to neighbouring Benin and Ghana since the election.

Some have told relief workers and rights organisations of killings and beatings, harassment and intimidation by pro-government forces.