Troops at home of Togo opposition candidate as presidential polls close

The home of a key Togo opposition candidate was surrounded by security forces just hours after polls closed Saturday in elections widely expected to see President Faure Gnassingbe claim a fourth term in power.

Troops could be seen outside the house of Agbeyome Kodjo, considered an important challenger in the electoral race, as the government confirmed the move and said it was for "his own safety".

"We are largely in the lead everywhere, my house is surrounded by soldiers," Kodjo told AFP.

A large contingent of security forces were blocking all access to the property in the capital Lome, according to AFP journalists at the scene.

Military roadblocks were being put up elsewhere in the city, while internet connections appeared to be sporadically interrupted.

Polls closed at 1600 GMT Saturday after what had been a peaceful election day with a moderate turnout.

Gnassingbe, who was running against six other candidates, has led the West African country of eight million people since 2005 following the death of his father Gnassingbe Eyadema, who ruled with an iron fist for 38 years.

Kodjo is seen as a potential dark horse in the polls after winning the backing of an influential former Catholic archbishop.

A former prime minister who served under Gnassingbe's father, he appeared to have gained ground during the electoral campaign.

"The Togolese want change, they want an alternative," he said early Saturday as he voted in Lome.

"And when we see all this mobilisation and all the methods of fraud put in place by the government, if at the end of the election, the government dares to say that it has won, imagine the rest."
"I am not going to tell you who I will vote for, but this time we don't want to be cheated of victory."