Togo's resigned president visits Burkina Faso

Former Togolese President Togolese Faure Gnassingbe left for Burkina Faso on Sunday to meet President Blaise Compaore, reports from Burkina Faso's capital Ouagadougou said.

Two days after resigning from presidency, Gnassingbe told Compaore that he just came to visit a next-door neighbor and explain the situation in Togo after his step-down Friday.

"All that people asked for, the opposition included, was that the constitution be respected. We have done that," Gnassingbe saidin Ouagadougou. "Now, we won't be distracted by this posturing. Wemust prepare for elections and accept the result."

Gnassingbe stepped aside late Friday to allow Abass Bonfoh, former deputy speaker of parliament, to become Togo's interim president amid strong pressure from the United States, the United Nations and West African leaders.

But he vowed to contest elections as the leader of the ruling Rally for the Togolese People.

Gnassingbe was installed on Feb. 5, hours after the death of his father Gnassingbe Eyadema who ruled the country for 38 years. The installation and the subsequent retroactive amendment of the constitution to make the move technically legal, sparked widespread outrage and deadly clashes between protesters and security forces.

Days after Gnassingbe's step-down, both Gnassingbe supporters and foes still rallied in Lome, the country's capital. Tens of thousands of supporters rushed into streets, backing the ruling party's Friday nomination of Gnassingbe as presidential candidate.

Source: Xinhua