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Las Vegas SUN

May 04, 2005

# Togo Swears in Son of Late Dictator

By EBOW GODWIN
ASSOCIATED PRESS

LOME, Togo (AP) -

The son of Togo's long-ruling late dictator was officially sworn in as president on Wednesday, one day after being declared the winner of last month's disputed poll that sparked street riots that left dozens dead and the flight of 20,000 people from this West African nation.

Faure Gnassingbe, 39, was sworn in during a ceremony attended by thousands of supporters, diplomats and top military officers in the capital, Lome.

"I swear to loyally fulfill the high functions which the nation has confided in me, to only be guided by the general interest and to respect the rights of persons and concentrate all my energy toward the development of the common good, peace and national unity," Gnassingbe said, raising his right hand in the air before constitutional court Chief Justice Atsu Koffi Amagah, who certified the election results on Tuesday.

Noticeably absent were foreign heads of state.

Gnassingbe took the same oath of office nearly two months ago after the military installed him in power following the Feb. 5 death of a heart attack of his father, Gnassingbe Eyadema. But under international pressure, Gnassingbe was forced to step down and call the April 24 elections.

Official results confirmed by the constitutional court on Tuesday gave Gnassingbe 60 percent of the vote and his main rival Bob Akitani 38 percent. Opposition leaders denounced the poll, saying it was marred by fraud and heavily rigged. Akitani boycotted Wednesday's ceremony.

Uncertified results released by the electoral commission last week indicating Gnassingbe won, ignited deadly riots that killed at least 22 people. The U.N. refugee agency says more than 20,000 people have fled to neighboring Ghana and Benin.

Eyadema was among the last of Africa's "Big Men," who held power through patronage, ethnic and regional loyalties, and military force, and many fear his son will carry on his oppressive legacy.

After the inauguration, Amagah said to Gnassingbe: "You have a very challenging task ahead of you to unite and reconcile the nation as you promised on the platform of your political campaign. We hope that you'll use your youth, your dynamism and your wisdom to bring about reconciliation, peace and unity."

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