English

Hello 

Create Profile

Creating your profile will enable you to submit photos and stories to get published on News24.


Please provide a username for your profile page:

This username must be unique, cannot be edited and will be used in the URL to your profile page across the entire 24.com network.

Settings

Location Settings

News24 allows you to edit the display of certain components based on a location. If you wish to personalise the page based on your preferences, please select a location for each component and click "Submit" in order for the changes to take affect.









Facebook Sign-In

Hi News addict,

Join the News24 Community to be involved in breaking the news.

Log in with Facebook to comment and personalise news, weather and listings.

 
 

Togo's election marks history

2007-10-15 08:22
line

Lome - In a hopeful sign for democratic politics in Togo, voters in the country's parliamentary election were handed the longest ballot sheets they had seen in more than a decade.

Sunday's election marked the first time in several years that no politicians from the political opposition boycotted a parliamentary poll in the West African nation, which had been ruled by one family since shortly after gaining independence from France in 1960.

Major opposition parties refused to participate in legislative elections in 1999 and 2002 over charges that the ruling party was rigging the vote.

On Sunday, long, winding lines quickly formed under a bright morning sun. About 3 000 people waited outside one polling station.

Opposition claims victory

Military ruler Gnassingbe Eyadema controlled Togo from 1967 until his death in 2005, after his son, Faure Gnassingbe, seized power. He won elections held a few months later under international pressure - the country's last election before Sunday's legislative poll.

The opposition had claimed victory in that vote and riots broke out. Days of violent clashes left hundreds dead, and tens of thousands of Togolese fled into neighboring Benin and Ghana to escape the violence, according to United Nations agencies.

Some Togolese said the years of opposition boycotts had born fruit.

After casting his vote, radio reporter Guy Yovo said: "The boycotts gave the opposition the chance to force the late President Eyadema to start with political reforms."

Significant international aid was also at stake for the impoverished country.

2 000+ candidates running for 81 seats

The European Union, which cut funding to Togo in 1993 over concerns about its totalitarian government, had since resumed some aid, but had said it was looking to this vote as a measure of Togo's democracy as it decided whether to restore full funding.

International observers were on hand from the EU, the association of the world's French-speaking countries and the 15-member Economic Community of West African States.

More than 2 000 candidates were running for 81 seats, according to the electoral commission. Seventy-two of the seats had been held by the ruling Rally of the Togolese People, according to a parliament spokesperson.

A power-sharing government organised the vote under an August 2006 deal that set up an independent electoral commission and put an opposition leader in the post of prime minister.

Originally scheduled for June, the vote was delayed twice by disputes over the issuing of voter cards and protocol for approximately 5 000 polling stations.

The president called the election the beginning of a great reform.

Gnassingbe said: "I believe that this will be the democratic rebirth of the Togolese people. If there are still skeptics, I will do everything to convince them."

- AP

Read News24’s Comments Policy

inside news24

 

140
1
1 of 10
 
Traffic
Lottery
 
  • Wednesday Ladysmith - 22:09 PM
    Road name: N11 Both Ways
    ROADWORK - two sets of stop / go controls just south of the R68 Dundee exit - expect waiting times of up to 20 minutes between Ladysmith and Newcastle (ends March 2013)
  • Saturday Pretoria - 08:07 AM
    Road name: N1 Both Ways
    ROADWORKS - lane closures on both carriageways for long term roadworks between the N4 Witbank Highway Interchange and the Zambesi Drive exit - EXPECT DELAYS (until Jan 2013)
 
More traffic reports...
 

Jobs [change area]

Cars[change area]

VOLKSWAGEN

CitiGolf 1.4i 5-dr MY04
2007
R 77,995.00

HONDA

CIVIC 1.7i 5Dr
2005
R 109,995.00

OPEL

Corsa 1.8 Sport Utility
2007
R 120,000.00

Property [change area]

Vulintaba Country Estate, Upper Drakensberg

A lifestyle estate beyond compare. Home Package Options From R990 000

HOUSES FOR SALE IN Pretoria

Houses R 2 300 000

Travel - Look, Book, Go!

Casa Rex, Vilanculos

Spend 5 nights in at the magical Mozambican resort of Casa Rex from R7983 per person sharing. Includes accommodation, return flights, taxes and transfers. Book now!

Kalahari.com - shop online today

TV Series

If you need a crash course in what happened last season of your favourite show. Get the series DVD Box set now. Buy now.

Fifty Shades of Grey Series

Keep away Jack Frost and let Christian Grey have you hot under the collar with New Yorks #1 Fifty Shades of Grey series. Buy now.

Playstation Games on special

Reignite that faltering love affair with your Playstation by grabbing these selected titles on special. Buy now.

The BBC Earth Collection

Indulge the explorer in you with the BBC earth collection on Blu-Ray. Buy now.

Kids DVDs for R89

Keep your kids boredom at bay with 2 Children’s DVDs’ for R89. Buy now.

OLX Free Classifieds [change area]

pool table

For Sale, Toys - Games - Hobbies in South Africa, Gauteng, Johannesburg. Date May 6

Lexus: IS

Vehicles, Cars in South Africa, Gauteng, Johannesburg. Date May 7

stylish bachelor furnished in sandton from 1st of june

Real Estate, Houses - Apartments for Rent in South Africa, Gauteng, Johannesburg. Date May 7

DSTV HD PVR Decoder

Only R1299.95

Pause, Rewind and Record, all in High Definition. Take full control and dictate what you watch with DSTVs’ HD PVR. Buy now.

Visit www.kalahari.com for millions of books, music, DVDs, games & more!

BlackBerry Torch 9810

The BlackBerry Torch 9810 gives you the powerful combination of...

From R3999.00

I'm shopping for:

Horoscopes
Aquarius
Aquarius

You’re on a creative high today so hopefully you’re utilising this ability to the best of your ability. By simply allowing...read more

There are new stories on the homepage. Click here to see them.