President Eyadema Dies; Son Named Successor
From Times Wire Reports
Togo’s President Gnassingbe Eyadema, 69, died of a heart attack on his way to Europe for treatment, officials said.
Hours later, Togo’s military high command named Eyadema’s 39-year-old son, Faure Gnassingbe, president. The constitution gives that power to the speaker of parliament, but the military said he was out of the country and it needed to avoid a “total vacuum of power.” Airports and borders were closed.
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