EBOW GODWIN
ASSOCIATED PRESS
LOME, Togo - Legislators amended Togo's constitution today to allow for elections within 60 days, but left the West African country's military-appointed leader in power in the interim in defiance of intensifying pressure at home and abroad.
The amendment echoed a plan suggested Friday by President Faure Gnassingbe, which failed to appease the West African leaders who demanded that he step down.
The 15-country Economic Community of West Africa announced sanctions Saturday against Togo, including a travel ban on its leaders, an arms embargo and a recall of ambassadors. On Sunday, the 52-country African Union joined ECOWAS in sanctioning Gnassingbe's second-generation dynastic administration.
Togo's army announced Gnassingbe's appointment Feb. 5, hours after his father, Gnassingbe Eyadema, died of a heart attack, ending his oppressive 38-year rule.
The next day, legislators amended Togo's constitution to allow Gnassingbe to stay in power until the end of his father's term in 2008. On Monday, they undid that change, bowing to international demands, and street protests at home, to allow for elections instead.
They did nothing, however, to roll back Gnassingbe's accession to power — leaving him in office at least through elections, in which Gnassingbe already has said he will run.
The United States and African countries have insisted that Gnassingbe resign immediately, allowing the speaker of the parliament to govern until elections, as mandated originally by the constitution.
The amendment echoed a plan suggested Friday by President Faure Gnassingbe, which failed to appease the West African leaders who demanded that he step down.
The 15-country Economic Community of West Africa announced sanctions Saturday against Togo, including a travel ban on its leaders, an arms embargo and a recall of ambassadors. On Sunday, the 52-country African Union joined ECOWAS in sanctioning Gnassingbe's second-generation dynastic administration.
Togo's army announced Gnassingbe's appointment Feb. 5, hours after his father, Gnassingbe Eyadema, died of a heart attack, ending his oppressive 38-year rule.
The next day, legislators amended Togo's constitution to allow Gnassingbe to stay in power until the end of his father's term in 2008. On Monday, they undid that change, bowing to international demands, and street protests at home, to allow for elections instead.
They did nothing, however, to roll back Gnassingbe's accession to power — leaving him in office at least through elections, in which Gnassingbe already has said he will run.
The United States and African countries have insisted that Gnassingbe resign immediately, allowing the speaker of the parliament to govern until elections, as mandated originally by the constitution.
2 comments:
all these articles from the star, but not the one about gerry adams being named by the irish gov't as a high ranking IRA official. hmmm...you're going soft on us jenny.
Is this your assholic J coming out Paul?
I don't put much about it in the blog because I don't think you savages are interested - but if you are interested, then I'll just post about it to my heart's content.
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