Government, opposition agree on electoral committee

Togo's government and opposition parties have agreed on the composition of a new independent electoral committee at talks on the country's future which were resumed this week after a three-month opposition boycott. According to a joint statement issued by a paritary committee on Tuesday after a day of talks, they agreed to create a 20-member electoral committee, with 10 members appointed by the government and another 10 by the opposition parties, news organisations reported. The list of members is to be agreed on at the next paritary meeting on 4 May before going to parliament for approval. Discussions aimed at resolving a political crisis that developed in mid-1998 when the opposition contested the result of presidential elections which it said were rigged were suspended in January 2000. However, the two sides met on Tuesday after the opposition announced, on 12 April, that it had agreed to return to the discussion table.