Togo voted for a new president today in a poll meant to resolve a political crisis after the death of the West African country's long-serving ruler but that has instead stoked fears of violence.
An opposition coalition of six parties believes it will win the election despite what it says are attempts to rig the poll by the ruling party of former President Gnassingbe Eyadema, who died in February after 38 years in office.
Mr Eyadema's 39-year old son Faure Gnassingbe, the ruling party's candidate, said he was confident the vote would pass off smoothly, despite violent clashes between rival activists in the run-up to the poll.
"The majority of Togolese want calm and above all peace," he said after voting at a school next to the Lome military barracks where his father, a former coup leader and wrestling champion, used to sleep throughout his presidency.
Polls opened early this morning. Long queues snaked outside polling stations in the capital Lome, particularly in the opposition stronghold of Be where the late arrival of electoral material delayed the start of voting in some centres.
Mr Gnassingbe was named president by the army when his father died but agreed to step down and hold polls after his appointment provoked an international outcry. The opposition coalition has named a single candidate, Emmanuel Akitani-Bob, 74, to challenge Mr Gnassingbe.
Weeks of opposition protests demanding a delay and deadly battles between rival supporters armed with machetes have fuelled fears of an explosion of violence, especially if Mr Gnassingbe is declared the winner - as most analysts expect. The opposition has denounced big irregularities in the run-up to the polls but says it is confident it will prevail. "Our people are ready to go and confront the forces of evil," coalition leader Yawovi Agboyibo said.