Feb. 13, 2005, 12:06AM

Thousands of protesters clash with police in Togo

Three are killed and dozens hurt in 2nd day of unrest over presidency

LOME, TOGO - Thousands of people opposing Togo's army-installed president burned tires and threw jagged pieces of metal at police Saturday during a second day of demonstrations in the West African nation's capital.

Security forces fought back with tear gas, batons and stun grenades, killing at least two protesters, as leaders from across the continent sought to stem the unrest a week after Faure Gnassingbe succeeded his father as president.

Opposition leaders said they saw three demonstrators killed and dozens wounded in the day's rioting.

Interior Minister Akila Esso-Boko confirmed the deaths but said police fired after they were surrounded and protesters tried to rip their guns away. Two protesters died immediately, and one died later in a hospital, he said.

Esso-Boko blamed the deaths on opposition leaders, saying: "Those who call for violence and insurrection should take active responsibility for putting at risk the lives of peaceful civilians."

Appearing on state-owned television late Saturday, Gnassingbe also condemned the demonstration and criticized opposition leaders, telling them they should, "show more maturity."

The 52-nation African Union issued a statement from Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, expressing concern over "the rapid deterioration of the situation in Togo" and condemning "the repression of the peaceful demonstration, which caused the loss of human lives."

The statement, by Chairman Alpha Oumar Konare, also deplored "intimidation of journalists and the closing or jamming of independent radio stations" and implored Togo authorities to restore constitutional law to the nation.

Togo's iron-fisted military made Gnassingbe president immediately after his father, Gnassingbe Eyadema, died of a heart attack Feb. 5.

However, the country's constitution states that the speaker of Parliament should become interim leader and call elections for a new president within 60 days.

The Parliament changed the constitution to remove references to the speaker assuming the presidency after army generals announced Gnassingbe's appointment.

Niger's President Mamadou Tandja,who leads the 15-nation Economic Community of West African States, delivered a demand on behalf of that group that Togo roll back the constitutional changes.

Back on the streets of Lome, the opposition movement vowed Saturday to fight Gnassingbe until he is removed from power.

Saturday's protest drew about 3,000 people, three times the number that showed up at a rally Friday, and turned violent through the day before subsiding by nightfall.