SECRETARY-GENERAL GRAVELY CONCERNED BY VIOLENCE FOLLOWING TOGO ELECTIONS,

REITERATES URGENT APPEAL FOR CALM

The following statement was issued today by the Spokesman for UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan:

The Secretary-General expresses grave concern over reported violent incidents that broke out, especially in Lomé, following the voting on 24 April 2005 and the announcement on 26 April of the preliminary results.  He expresses his sadness at the deaths and injuries caused.  The Secretary-General reiterates his urgent appeal for calm, and calls upon the various political leaders and their supporters to refrain from any actions or statements that incite further violence or promote hatred and divisions in the country.  He also calls on the security forces to exercise similar restraint.

The Secretary-General continues to support efforts by regional leaders and institutions, in particular the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), to promote peace in Togo.  He welcomes, in this regard, the initiative taken on 25 April 2005 by the current Chairman of the African Union, President Obasanjo of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, to encourage dialogue and national reconciliation in Togo.

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