Togo: Votes Counting In Landmark Poll
Votes
are being counted in the landmark parliamentary elections in
Togo, held on Sunday.
The first results from the elections,
in which all opposition parties took part for the first time in
almost two decades, are expected by mid-week.
Dozens of parties and independent candidates
competed for the eighty-one parliamentary seats in the election.
Opposition parties, including the Union of Forces
for Change, UFC, of veteran opposition leader Gilchrist Olympio,
undertook a largely peaceful campaign.
A Departure
Turnout was said to be high, with long queues
reported at polling stations. European Union observers said
there had been no reports of serious disturbances.
The head of the European Union's observer
mission, Fiona Hall, said there had been no reports of violence
and voting had generally gone very smoothly.
“The greatest anxiety when the process of doing elections
differently was started was always that there would be a return
to violence on polling day. That hasn't happened…I hope that
that level of calmness will carry on in the days ahead,”
she added.
Togolese leaders hope the poll will convince foreign donors
to resume aid after a suspension lasting 15 years.
The military carried out arbitrary arrests and
extra judicial killings during the 1990s, leading to the
suspension of international aid.
Past Outing
Hundreds of people were killed during the 2005 presidential
election, won by current President Faure Gnassingbe, who
replaced his father, Gnassingbe Eyadema, who had ruled for 38
years.
President Faure Gnassingbe did step down in order
for polls to be held and he emerged as the victor.
However, his presidential election two years ago
was disputed and marred by violence in which hundreds of people
were killed.
BBC/MIA
