AFRICA/TOGO - President of Togo and main Opposition leader reach agreement in Rome

Rome (Fides Service)- Thanks to the intervention of the social activist S. Egidio Community based in Rome, the President of Togo and the main oppostion leader have agreed to work together to further to process of the country’s democratisation. At the invitation of S. Egidio President Faure Gnassingbé Eyadéma of Togo and the leader of the Union of Forces for Change UFC Gilchrist Olympio met on 21 July at S. Egidio centre in Rome to examine the present situation in Togo and discuss the future.
The two leaders agreed to condemn and stop violence whatever its origin, to free prisoners of conscience arrested during the electoral process, to appeal to refugees to come back to the country and to make a joint appeal to the international community to help this return. The President and Opposition leader agreed to continue dialogue to reach a political agreement to futher the consolidation of democracy in Togo. Both men expressed gratitude to S. Egidio and asked it to convoke another meeting and to accompany the dialogue.
Togo has been in crisis since presidential elections on 24 April when Faure Gnassingbé Eyadéma was declared the winner with 60% of the votes. The results were rejected by the Opposition which called for a repeat vote. (L.M.) (Agenzia Fides 22/7/2005 righe 20 parole 218)