Togo opposition readies protest rally

2010-03-13 14:00

Lome - Backers of Togo's opposition leader were gathering Saturday for a rally denouncing the disputed reelection of President Faure Gnassingbe, whose supporters were planning a counter protest.

Opposition leader Jean-Pierre Fabre claims he was robbed of victory by Gnassinghe in March 4 presidential elections and said he expected a "massive" turn-out in his support at the rally.

Supporters of his Union of Forces for Change (UFC) were gathering near the party headquarters in the capital's working-class Be district and donning yellow tee-shirts while backers of the president were rallying in a downtown location and wearing white tee-shirts, witnesses said.

Officials said that the rival marches were routed separately and pro-government and opposition supporters would be kept apart.

An opposition protest in Lome on Tuesday, attended by several hundred people, was dispersed by security forces using tear gas.

Last Sunday riot police put down a demonstration by more than 200 opposition supporters.

Fabre's party and three other smaller opposition parties are contesting the results of the presidential poll which officials say was won by Gnassingbe with 60.92% of votes.

Fabre said that electoral fraud robbed him of victory.

- AFP