Written question asked by Cheryl Gillan (Conservative) on Friday, 19 June 1998, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Monday, 29 June 1998. It was answered by Tony Lloyd (Labour) on Monday, 29 June 1998 on behalf of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.

Foreign and Commonwealth Office

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what assessment he has made of the conduct of the election in Togo.

Answer: Mrs. Gillan: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the conduct of the election in Togo. [47328] Mr. Tony Lloyd: We are deeply concerned about the conduct of the Presidential elections in Togo. In particular we deplore the many irregularities with the electoral process: unequal access to the media, problems with the voter list and polling cards, the suspension of the count, the confiscation of ballot boxes by the military, the resignation of the head of the national electoral commission, and the harassment of election monitors. The UK as Presidency of the European Union issued a declaration on 26 June expressing these concerns and urging all parties involved to refrain from violence.

Secondary information