Togo's ruling presidential political party on Mon urged supporters to cause got to the streets to coincide amongst planned opposition demonstrations against the tedious stride of political reform.
Georges Kwawu Aidam, the laid about vice-president of the Union for the Republic (UNIR) told AFP at that spot would endure marches on Wed in addition to Th inwards back upwardly of a controversial constitutional reform pecker which the opposition come across every bit non going far enough.
A parliamentary panel terminal Fri approved the pecker to revamp the constitution in addition to innovate a presidential term bound afterward days of protests against the authorities of Faure Gnassingbe, the scion of 1 of Africa's oldest political dynasties.
But the panel rejected wholesale 48 amendments proposed past times opposition parties.
Aidam said the ruling political party march would "say 'no' to violence" in addition to gibe counter rallies every bit the opposition steps upwardly its demands, notably to apply a bound on the expose of presidential damage retroactively, preventing Gnassingbe from running in 1 lawsuit to a greater extent than inwards 2020.
He has been president since 2005 next the expiry of his father, Gnassingbe Eyadema, who had ruled since 1967.
Opposition parties cause got long called for the introduction of two-term limits in addition to a alter to the two-round voting system.
The West African state's 1992 constitution has been modified a expose of times, including past times Eyadema, who enjoyed the military's back upwardly in addition to who inwards 2002 scrapped mandate limits.
Jean-Pierre Fabre, the historic leader of the opposition, reiterated his rally appeal on Monday, sending an well message to the Togolese people via the Whatsapp messaging service.
"My honey compatriots... nosotros invite y'all in 1 lawsuit once to a greater extent than to mobilise to cause got exercise inwards keen numbers inwards the demonstrations that the democratic forces contemplate," said Fabre, president of the National Alliance for Change (NAC).
"We volition non cause got residual until Mr. Faure Gnassingbe has left ability every bit y'all enquire him," he added.
On September six in addition to 7, hundreds of thousands of people took to the streets of Lome, Togo's capital, in addition to inwards other cities to involve constitutional change.
The demonstrators brandished signs in addition to chanted slogans to involve Gnassingbe go.
At the weekend, Togo's bishops slammed "the violence exercised past times the forces of police in addition to order" in addition to urged political parties non to organise simultaneous rallies.
The ruling political party had initially decided before this calendar month to organise marches on the same twenty-four lx minutes menses every bit the opposition, forcing the latter to alter its dates.
Aidam insists the ruling political party volition "defend its values" in addition to that the opposition has no monopoly on the street.
AFP