West Africans lift Togo sanctions
The West African regional grouping Ecowas says it is lifting sanctions
against Togo with immediate effect.
The move follows the announcement by Togolese leader Faure Gnassingbe that
he is stepping down after increasing international pressure.

Mr Faure was installed three weeks ago as president by the military,
immediately after the death of his father, Gnassingbe Eyadema.

He will be replaced on an acting basis by parliament speaker Abass Bonfoh.

Faure Gnassingbe said he wanted to ensure the transparency of the election
now due in April, in which he plans to stand as a candidate.

The UN Secretary General, Kofi Annan, also welcomed Mr Faure's decision.

'Borrowed robes'

A spokeswoman for Nigerian President Olesegun Obasanjo, who chairs the
African Union, described Mr Faure's decision as a "victory for democracy".

"What happened in Togo was a coup d'etat dressed in the borrowed robes of
democracy and we are glad that Faure Gnassingbe has finally realised the
folly of what happened," Remi Oyo said, quoted by AFP news agency.


 For so long Africa has had a bad image - this is eloquest testimony that
Africa can create solutions to its own problems
Remi Oyo
Spokeswoman for Nigeria's president

"For so long Africa has had a bad image. This is eloquest testimony that
Africa can create solutions to its own problems," she added.

The UN and African Union imposed sanctions on Togo after Mr Faure was
installed as president by the army hours after the death of his father
earlier this month.

Although he promised elections within 60 days, as stipulated by the
constitution, this did little to quell protests from African neighbours
and beyond.

Constitutional amendments swiftly introduced to legitimise Mr Faure's
appointment have since been partly reversed.

Late on Friday, the country's ruling party nominated Mr Faure as its new
candidate for the presidential election.

Earlier this week, he visited Gabon and then Libya, for a meeting with
President Muammar Gaddafi.


Story from BBC NEWS:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/1/hi/world/africa/4300089.stm

Published: 2005/02/26 10:24:08 GMT

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