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African Regional News Updates |
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21 April 2009 The United Nations' top regional
envoy has warned Togo's government to respect the
country's laws as it seeks those responsible for an
apparent attempted coup.
Said Jinnit was speaking after talks with President
Faure Gnassingbe in the capital Lome late Monday.
"The wish of the United Nations is that the
investigation is treated in conformity with the law
and in the framework of strict respect for judicial
and legal procedures in force in Togo and under the
norms of international law," Jinnit said on state
television.
Jinnit, the UN secretary general's Special Envoy to
West Africa, said he had received assurances from
Gnassingbe that the goverment would adhere to judicial
procedures in its probe of what Gnassingbe said on
Friday was an attempted coup.
A former defence minister and ruling party
heavyweight, Kpatcha Gnassignbe, who is also the
president's half-brother, has been accused by state
prosecutors of "trying to undermine state security,"
with five military officers and a number of civilians.
Faure Gnassingbe did not directly accuse his
sibling when he denounced the apparent coup attempt in
a televised address on Friday.
Another brother of the president, Essolizam
Gnassingbe, has also been detained.
Benin's Defence Minister Issifou Kogui N'douro also
met Gnassingbe on Monday, to receive a message of
support from the neighbouring country's president Boni
Yayi. |
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