Gnassingbe Eyadema

The West African nation of Togo was calm as troops guarded key government buildings after an unsuccessful attack on its pro-Western president, Gnassingbe Eyadema. About 150 French paratroopers were flown to the former French territory to help mop up resistance, but sources said they were not needed. Thirteen people were killed in the fighting last week.

Attackers stormed the military compound in Lome, Togo's capital, the home of President Gnassingbe Eyadema, then fled under fire from government troops. Eyadema was reported safe, but his top military aide was killed. A government communique said the raiders came "from abroad," and Togo immediately sealed its border with Ghana as part of an investigation.

Attackers stormed the military compound in Lome, Togo's capital, the home of President Gnassingbe Eyadema, then fled under fire from government troops. Eyadema was reported safe, but his top military aide was killed. A government communique said the raiders came "from abroad," and Togo immediately sealed its border with Ghana as part of an investigation.

Soldiers loyal to former dictator Gen. Gnassingbe Eyadema have not kept their promise to retreat from Lome, the capital city, after a coup attempt, the fledgling civilian government said. Prime Minister Joseph Kokou Koffigoh's interim government, charged with ending Eyadema's 24-year military rule and holding free elections, appealed for international aid to prevent the former dictator from retaking power.

Soldiers loyal to former dictator Gen. Gnassingbe Eyadema have not kept their promise to retreat from Lome, the capital city, after a coup attempt, the fledgling civilian government said. Prime Minister Joseph Kokou Koffigoh's interim government, charged with ending Eyadema's 24-year military rule and holding free elections, appealed for international aid to prevent the former dictator from retaking power.

President Gnassingbe Eyadema late Friday urged soldiers to give up their attempt to restore his power, while 300 French troops remained poised nearby to intervene. Rebel soldiers were besieging the oceanside palace of reformist Prime Minister Joseph Koffigoh, which they surrounded with tanks on Wednesday. The soldiers were trying to starve Koffigoh out, refusing to let food into his complex. The dissidents have threatened to "reduce the city to ashes" if Eyadema does not name a new government.

Togo President Gen. Gnassingbe Eyadema was declared winner of the presidential election. Opposition parties promised to challenge the vote, which leading international observers boycotted on the grounds that its setup made a fair outcome unlikely. Eyadema received 57.32%, while Bob Akitani, the top challenger, received 34.14%, the election commission said.

Longtime dictator Gen. Gnassingbe Eyadema was officially proclaimed the winner Thursday of Togo's presidential election, which was boycotted by leading opposition groups. The Supreme Court released official results of the Aug. 25 ballot that showed President Eyadema, accused of numerous human rights abuses, winning 96.4% of the vote.

President Gnassingbe Eyadema promised to turn his one-party state into a multi-party democracy by today, accelerating reforms to try to survive demonstrations by thousands of people demanding his ouster. Eyadema's nationwide address followed the recovery of 22 bodies from a lagoon in the capital of this West African nation.

The son of Togo's long-ruling dictator was officially sworn in as president, one day after being declared the winner of last month's disputed poll, which sparked riots that left dozens dead. Faure Gnassingbe, 39, took the oath in front of thousands of supporters, diplomats and military officers in Lome, the capital. His father, Gnassingbe Eyadema, died Feb. 5.

President Gnassingbe Eyadema late Friday urged soldiers to give up their attempt to restore his power, while 300 French troops remained poised nearby to intervene. Rebel soldiers were besieging the oceanside palace of reformist Prime Minister Joseph Koffigoh, which they surrounded with tanks on Wednesday. The soldiers were trying to starve Koffigoh out, refusing to let food into his complex. The dissidents have threatened to "reduce the city to ashes" if Eyadema does not name a new government.

The West African nation of Togo was calm as troops guarded key government buildings after an unsuccessful attack on its pro-Western president, Gnassingbe Eyadema. About 150 French paratroopers were flown to the former French territory to help mop up resistance, but sources said they were not needed. Thirteen people were killed in the fighting last week.

Gen. Gnassingbe Eyadema, the president of Togo, was reelected with an overwhelming 92% of the vote in elections boycotted by the opposition. Voter turnout in the tiny West African country of 3.2 million people was 36%. U.S. and German electoral observers left before the vote, saying that with no opposition, there was nothing to observe.