Togo's opposition to take protests to national assembly [The Morning Call]

Opposition leaders in Togo have called for huge turn-out in protests today outside parliament where lawmakers are due to meet; to demand constitutional reform.

Further marches were scheduled for next Wednesday and Thursday. Gnassingbe’s government last week approved a draft bill for political change after protesters called for limits on presidential mandates and a two-round voting system.

The president has been in power since 2005, when he took over from his father, Gnassingbe Eyadema, who ruled Togo for nearly 40 years. Opposition parties have called the bill a “delaying tactic” and the government has since suggested it may not be discussed in full or approved on Tuesday.

Any amendment to the constitution requires the approval of four fifths of the national assembly.

Spokesman for the main opposition National Alliance for Change party Eric Dupuy said they intend to keep up the pressure until they see to the departure of president Faure Gnassingbe.