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President Gnassingbe Has Early Lead in Togo Vote

   VOA News 06 March 2010
   Togo's President Faure Gnassingbe (2009 file photo)

Photo: AP

   Togo's President Faure Gnassingbe (2009 file photo)

   Election officials in Togo say President Faure Gnassingbe has an early
   lead in the presidential race, but opposition leaders say they suspect
   the vote has been rigged.
   Togo's  electoral  agency says President Gnassingbe is ahead with more
   than half the vote counted in the country's 35 precincts.
   An  election commissioner representing the opposition complained there
   is  a lack of transparency and questioned the vote's credibility.  The
   commissioner,  Jean-Claude  Codjo,  represents the Union of Forces for
   Change.   The  opposition  party's candidate, Jean-Pierre Fabre, is in
   second place.
   In   another  development,  Togo's  election  commission  ordered  all
   precinct  directors  to bring ballot papers to the capital, Lome.  The
   agency  said  it took the step because there was a problem sending the
   results electronically.
   It  is  unclear  if the order will delay a final election result which
   had been expected this weekend.
   On  Friday, both President Gnassingbe and Mr. Fabre claimed victory in
   Thursday's vote.
   Togo's last presidential election in 2005 was marred by allegations of
   fraud and post-election violence that left hundreds of people dead.
   Observers  say  Togo's  only  democratic  election  to  date  was  the
   parliamentary poll of 2007.
   President  Gnassingbe came to power five years ago, after the death of
   his father, Togo's longtime ruler Gnassingbe Eyadema.

   Some information for this report was provided by AFP, AP and Reuters.

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