Troops in Togo Back President, Besiege Premier

Troops loyal to President Gnassingbe Eyadema surrounded the palace of Prime Minister Joseph Koffigoh with tanks Thursday and demanded that the powers of Togo’s longtime president be restored.

The troops apparently were repulsed by the palace guard, and at least 17 deaths were reported on a second day of violence in this West African nation.

French sources in Paris said French Ambassador Bruno Delaye was with Koffigoh in his besieged oceanside palace and was trying to negotiate an end to the confrontation.

Eyadema returned to the capital from his home village Thursday and also was working to end the violence, but it was not clear whether the troops were under his control, the French sources said.

Reuters news agency reported that the troops toppled Koffigoh’s government and took over state radio and television to announce his ouster. Telephone and telex links to the outside were cut.

The troops, who have botched several previous attempts to overthrow Koffigoh’s pro-democracy government, were demanding the return to power of Togo’s military ruler of 24 years. Koffigoh’s government stripped Eyadema of all but ceremonial duties last August.

In a broadcast late Thursday from the national radio station, the rebels declared: “The armed forces of Togo demand one more time of the head of state (Eyadema) that he name an effective man to form a new government. If not, the entire town will be reduced to ashes. The sooner the better.”

Their call was a demand to reinstate Eyadema as Togo’s leader.

On Tuesday, Koffigoh’s government banned Eyadema’s party, Rally of the Togolese People, setting off clashes Wednesday between Eyadema’s supporters and foes in Lome, the capital. Six people were reported killed and 50 wounded.

Doctors at Lome’s morgue reported 12 deaths Thursday, and journalists found the bodies of three children aged about 12 in an emergency room at the main hospital. All died from bullet wounds. Two more deaths were also reported.

Koffigoh, reached by the British Broadcasting Corp. from London, said he was in contact with Eyadema and the military and hoped to find a peaceful solution.

He said he had troops who would come to his aid if called. His palace guard blocked the troops in tanks outside from entering, the source in Koffigoh’s office said.

Koffigoh was named interim prime minister at a national conference that accused Eyadema of torturing political rivals to death and looting state coffers during his one-party rule.

This angered many soldiers, as did the conference’s calls for the presidential guard to be disbanded and the army to be cut.

A Look at Togo

Population: 3.5 million. Ethnic groups: 37 tribes; largest are Ewe, Mina, Kabye. Language: French (official), tribal languages. Religion: Mainly indigenous beliefs with Christian and Muslim minorities. Land area: 21,925 square miles Economy: Depends heavily on subsistence agriculture, which accounts for about 35% of gross domestic product and provides jobs for 78% of labor force. Government: Former French colony is in transition from one-party residential rule to multiparty system.

Source: CIA