Bazi has since accused Germany, which was Togo's colonial master before World War Two, of backing the opposition. Togo spun into chaos when Gnassingbe Eyadema died in February after nearly four decades in power and army leaders named his son, who eventually quit under fierce international pressure and agreed to elections, to replace him. African leaders want to avoid another conflict in a region already struggling to end intertwined wars. Over 7,000 people have already fled to neighbouring Benin and Ghana, according to the United Nations refugee agency. The opposition says 100 people were killed in the violence that swept Lome and other towns in the West African country. No independent confirmation of the toll was available, but one local humans rights group said it had established an initial count of 40 dead with many more wounded by bullets or missing. International reaction to the polls has been varied with France and ECOWAS calling it satisfactory despite some irregularities but the United States questioning the results.
