(Pan African News Agency (PANA),  Lome, Togo,  June 13, 2001)

The Togolese government has released one billion CFA francs to finance the early parliamentary elections slated 14-28 October, Prime Minister Mensah Agbeyome Kodjo told the Independent National Electoral Commission in Lome. Kodjo called on members of the commission to draw up its tentative budget taking into consideration of the constraints under national budget for fiscal 2001 which provides for a maximum of one billion francs to fund the elections. The commission had earlier proposed five-billion-franc budget.

Meanwhile, members of Independent Local Electoral Commissions and Commissions for Registers and Cards will be inaugurated in the next few days across the country, the national electoral commission announced.