Islam Times - ‘Togo releases 119 anti-govt. protesters’

Islam Times - Some 119 Togolese have been released after being detained for taking part in demonstrations against President Faure Gnassingbe, the country’s security minister says.

Security Minister Colonel Damehane Yark said in a statement on Sunday that authorities were still holding eight people, AFP reported.

The opposition coalition “Let's Save Togo,” which organized the anti-government rallies, said over 100 protesters were wounded and 125 others detained during the demonstrations over Tuesday and Wednesday when security forces fired teargas canisters to disperse the crowd.

"We still do not know if 119 people have actually been released, but we can say that some of our supporters, who were detained have been freed," said Pedro Amuzu, a member of the coalition.

On Saturday, thousands of opposition activists held an anti-government demonstration in Lome, which ended peacefully.

Protesters have been campaigning for a delay in parliamentary elections to allow reforms to take place in the West African nation.

The opposition has launched a campaign of civil disobedience against the government and announced plans to hold further rallies followed by sit-ins at Independence Square in the capital next week.

Raphael Kpande-Adzare, an official from the opposition coalition, said the sit-ins are scheduled to be held from August 28 to 31.

Gnassingbe came to power in 2005 disputed election after the death of his father, who had run the country for 38 years. He was reelected to a second term in 2010 in a poll, which, opposition claimed, was accompanied by fraud and intimidation.