Three killed in Togo after imam arrested

LOME: Three people were killed as violence broke out in Togo’s second city, Sokode, after an imam close to the country’s main opposition was arrested, the government said yesterday. “Two soldiers on guard duty at the home of a VIP were lynched and executed and their weapons and ammunition were taken,” it said in a statement. “A young person also died and about 20 other civilians and members of the security forces were injured,” it added.

Amnesty International’s country representative, Aime Adi, told AFP the young person killed was an apprentice upholsterer and was shot. The clashes came against a backdrop of anti-government protests led by Tikpi Atchadam, from the Panafrican National Party (PNP), who has a power base in the northern city. Ouro Akpo Tchagnaou, from the National Alliance for Change (ANC) party, said: “Electricity was cut off at about 7:00 pm (2100 GMT on Monday) after evening prayers. “Five police vehicles arrived to arrest Alpha Alassane, a very well-known imam in the city,” he added. “The population felt targeted and took to the streets.”

Clashes lasted throughout the night until calm was restored but the authorities have been warned of renewed protests if Alassane is not freed yesterday morning. “The situation was hard to put up with last night. The security forces and youths clashed in several parts of the city, with teargas and stone-throwing,” one local said. —AFP