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General News of Tuesday, 26 April 2005

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Faure Gnassingbe Declared Winner

...In Togo Presidential Election
... opposition rejects vote

Togo's election commission says ruling party candidate Faure Gnassingbe is the winner of Sunday's presidential election.
The commission chief (Kissem Tchangai-Walla) says Mr. Gnassingbe, son of the late longtime leader Gnassingbe Eyadema, won with just over 60 percent of votes cast.
Minutes after the announcement, angry opposition youths poured onto the streets of Togo's capital, Lome, setting up burning barricades, throwing rocks and attacking cars.
Street violence and allegations of fraud on both sides marred Sunday's election, which was organized under pressure by West African leaders after the military briefly installed Mr. Gnassingbe following his father's death in February.
According to the electoral commission, opposition candidate Emmanual Akitani-Bob won just over 38 percent of the vote. The third candidate, Harry Olympio, came in last with under one-percent (0.55).