Togo’s Gnassingbe bows to international pressure and quits

LOME - Togo's leader Faure Gnassingbe said today he was stepping down as president and would contest elections in the West African country, bowing to massive international pressure to quit.

The African Union (AU) suspended Togo on Friday in the latest blow to Gnassingbe.

African leaders, European officials and the United States have all urged Gnassingbe to quit since he was appointed president by Togo's powerful army hours after his father, Gnassingbe Eyadema, died on Feb. 5, ending his 38-year rule.

"In order to guarantee the transparency of this election ... and to give the same chance to all the candidates, I have decided to renounce the post of president of the national assembly, who is acting president of the president of the republic," Gnassingbe said in a speech broadcast on state media.

"It's now up to the national assembly to elect a new head who will be interim president of the republic," he said.

In a bid to stem international fury, Gnassingbe had pledged to hold presidential elections in 60 days but he indicated he would stay on until then, drawing international anger.

"I sincerely hope that the West African community and the international community remains at our side to guarantee the organisation of free, transparent and honest elections," he said in the speech.

Under Togo's constitution, the head of the national assembly became acting president on the death of Eyadema.

After the army named Gnassingbe president, Togo's national assembly elected Gnassingbe as its head making him the legal interim president.

It also removed a clause in the constitution requiring elections in 60 days, allowing Gnassingbe to rule unchallenged until 2008.

The national assembly will now elect a new head to become the acting president until elections are held.

Earlier on Friday, Gnassingbe was named the ruling party's candidate in forthcoming presidential elections.

"The RPT (Rally of Togolese People) is a party that excels in adversity. The RPT is a party that excels in difficult times and it is an unbeatable party," he told delegates after being elected as the new party chief.

The AU decided to suspend Togo from all its activities. It also asked the executive AU commission to ensure scrupulous enforcement by member states of sanctions already imposed by the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).

The suspension was announced at a meeting of the AU Peace and Security Council in the Ethiopian capital Addis Ababa.

The Peace and Security Council urged the AU "to take all measures to restore constitutional order to Togo as soon as possible", council commissioner Said Djinnit told reporters.

The AU decision came after Gnassingbe held talks on Thursday with the leaders of Gabon and Libya.

After meeting Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi, Gnassingbe said he could end the crisis that has isolated Togo, brought thousands of opposition protesters onto the streets and raised fears of further instability in a conflict-ridden region.

Togo's main opposition parties have demanded the reinstatement of the head of the national assembly, Fambare Ouattara Natchaba, who should have taken over on Eyadema's death.

- REUTERS