Liberta Togo

The first president of Togo, Sylvanus Olympio (1901-1963) took office as soon as Togo gained independence in 1960. When he refused to let 626 Togolese veterans of the French army, many of whom had fought in Indochina and Algeria, join Togo's army, they deposed him in a military coup on January 13, 1963. He was killed the next day. A civilian president, Nicolas Grunitzky (1913-1969) was installed, but exactly four years later, there was another military coup. Grunitzky fled the country and was killed in a car crash in the Cte d'Ivoire.

One of the original veterans from the 1963 coup, Gnassingb Eyadma (1937-2005), was president from 1967 until his death in 2005.

In February 2005, following the announcement of Eyadema's death, his son Faure Gnassingb was named by Togo's military as the country's leader, raising numerous eyebrows. The constitution of Togo declared that in the case of the president's death, the speaker of Parliament takes his place, and has 60 days to call new elections. However, on February 6th, Parliament retroactively changed the Constitution, declaring that Faure would hold office for the rest of his father's term, with elections deferred until 2008. With the world in uproar and World bodies calling it a Coup-Etat The military in Togo was forces to hold elections.

With claims of 60% of the electoral votes Faure Gnassingbe was declared the winner .

International reports from across the globe claimed widespread Fraud had taken place. During

" Martin Assogba ( Ecowas observer) said that in one polling station in the northern stronghold of the winner, more ballots were cast than there were registered voters. The announcement that ruling party candidate Faure Gnassingbe had won sparked days of violent clashes. Some 26,500 people have fled Togo, says the UN refugee agency, UNHCR. The opposition has said the poll was rigged but Ecowas officials have previously said the election was broadly free and fair, despite a few minor problems. 'Child voters' "It was an election marred by lots of irregularities," Mr Assogba told BBC Afrique. He said that in one polling station in Kara, 607 votes were counted although there were just 585 registered voters.

He also said that people had been allowed to vote even if they did not have the identity papers officially required.

He also said he saw people who were obviously children voting with polling cards belonging to people aged over 30. "

Many reports back this claim aswell as others citing ballot boxes were taken away by armed Government troops, distribution of voting papers being higher in Government north than in opposition south aswell as intimidation.

So far in Togo reports have also indicated some 800 people dead from Government sponsored acts . Mr Olympio and Gnassingbe seem to think that Togo is theres to rule by right of birth . Mr olympio has done nothing for the Togolese people in all the years and has sponsored armed rebellions to cause civil war. Such hate fills Mr Olympio that he sent armed mercenaries into Togo during the 1980's and even in the 1990's . Whilst Gnassingbe family also seems to think of Togo as its possession . Togo is governed with an iron grip and its assets looted whilst the Togolese people suffer the Gnassingbe government lives a life of luxury and sends its family members to europe for health and education purposes.

"What is the opposition doing?" complained Father Thomas at Aneho Roman Catholic cathedral. "Why aren't they helping the wounded and the refugees? Why aren't they helping us?"