Togo protest turns bloody, 7 killed

Togo opposition leader told a press conference, Saturday night, that police fired into the crowd as they demonstrated against the ruling party.

Tikpi Atchadam, President of the Togolese Pan African National Party said, "Police shot and killed seven innocent civilians in Sokode over 300 kilometers from Lome who were protesting over the way one family has been ruling the country for over fifty years. From the father to the son. It's like a family property and we are ready to resist that this time". Scores were also reported injured.

The opposition members, with their red T shirts, chanting anti government slogans, also called for reform of the country's constitution to include term limits.

President Faure Gnasimbge has been in power since February 2005, after the death of his father President Gnasimgbe Eyadema who ruled the country for 38, since 1967.

In a statement, the security ministry said two civilians were killed and 12 gendarmes were wounded.

In May last year, the rights group Amnesty International criticized the Togolese Government, especially President Faure Gnassingbé, for failing to live up to its commitments to promote human rights.