Togo: Gnassingbe vows to respect human rights

The decision by &to=http:// english.pravda.ru/hotspots/2001/03/05/2835.html' target=_blank>Togo's parliament to approve the son of late leader Gnassingbe Eyadema as his successor is greeted with disapproval in the press.

In Togo itself, there is speculation over the role of the ousted parliament speaker, who should have taken over on the president's death. Elsewhere, papers say the events raise concerns for the whole continent.

Togo News is largely content to report the facts: that deputies voted to change the constitution on the transition of power, as well as to dismiss Fambare Natchaba Ouattaba as speaker. But it also adds in a pointed aside that the president's son, Faure Gnassingbe, had been "immediately 'entrusted' by the army with the presidential role, in violation of constitutional rules", says BBC News.

According to Reuters, earlier Togo's main opposition leader Gilchrist Olympio called from Paris for street protests and a peaceful revolution to oust Gnassingbe, who was sworn in on Monday.

Olympio's UFC party was among those urging the "dead country" protest.

Flanked by Togo's star-and-stripes flag, Gnassingbe raised his right hand and vowed to be guided by the small west &to=http:// english.pravda.ru/world/2001/12/20/24108.html ' target=_blank>African country's "general interest and respect for human rights" as the six members of the court looked on soberly.

"I vow to devote all of our forces to promote development, wellbeing, peace and national unity," he said. "I vow to preserve the integrity of the nation and to always be a faithful and loyal servant of the people."