More than 100 people were wounded and 125 others arrested during demonstrations this week in Togo's capital that authorities dispersed with tear gas, leading to clashes, protest organisers said Friday.
"We have recorded about 100 injured for the time being and the complete count has not yet been done," Pedro Amuzu of the Let's Save Togo coalition told AFP.
"One hundred twenty-five people were arrested, according to provisional figures."
The government said 10 people were slightly wounded on Tuesday, including a police officer. No official figures have been given for Wednesday.
Togolese authorities sought to stop two days of protests in Lome on Tuesday and Wednesday ahead of parliamentary elections expected in October, saying demonstrations could not be held in commercial areas of the city.
Let's Save Togo, a coalition of civil society and opposition groups which has organised a number of demonstrations, had already planned three days of protests beginning Tuesday when the government announced the ban.
The group vowed to follow through with the demonstrations, though protesters indicated at the last minute that the route of the march would be changed. Authorities however did not agree on the proposed changes.
Security forces fired tear gas on Tuesday and Wednesday to disperse the protests, and some demonstrators threw rocks and burnt tyres in the streets in response.
A third day of protests set for Thursday were called off due to what protest organisers called the crackdown by the Togolese government.
Another march has been scheduled for Saturday and it is not yet clear whether security forces plan to allow it to go ahead.
The coalition's coordinator, Zeus Ajavon, on Thursday called for an end to President Faure Gnassingbe's government and urged Togolese to "disobey and organise" against "illegitimate authority."
Protesters have been seeking a delay in the parliamentary elections to allow reforms to first take place as well as the repeal of changes to electoral laws that they say the government pushed through.
While the elections are expected to be held in October, no date has been set.
Togo has been run by the same family for more than four decades. Gnassingbe Eyadema ruled the country for 38 years with an iron fist until his death in 2005.
Shortly after his death was announced, the military installed his son Faure Gnassingbe as president. He has since won elections in 2005 and 2010.
Source: http://news.yahoo.com/dozens-arrested-wounded-togo-demos-organisers-005940283.html
july 4th higgs boson Malware Monday First Row Sports American flag Happy 4th of July 4th Of July Desserts
No comments:
Post a Comment
Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.