Togolese police Saturday threw tear gas
to dispel opposition demonstrations who had taken to the streets
of Lome in a peaceful protest march.
Several opposition parties, including the Peoples Democratic
Convention (CDPA), the Union of the Forces for Change (UFC), the
Action Committee for Renewal (CAR) and the Panafrican Patriotic
Convention (CPP) organised the march.
Also in the ranks of the marchers were trade and student union leaders.
The demonstrators were pressing for transparency in future
parliamentary elections, the payment of students' bursaries,
and the release of jailed journalist Messan Lucien. The Ministry of Interior, Security and
Decentralisation had earlier prohibited the march.
