Reports from Togo say President Gnassingbe Eyadema and his political opponents have agreed to invite diplomats from Europe and French-speaking countries to mediate in talks aimed at resolving an election dispute.

An official from the largest opposition group, the Union of Forces for Change, led by Gilchrist Olympio, said party leaders have met in the past month to lay the groundwork for official talks likely to take place in mid-January.

The opposition has accused the president of fraud in elections held in June and the European Community and the United States have expressed doubts about the result.

President Eyadema has ruled Togo for more than thirty years since he seized power in a coup in 1967.