Tear gas fired at Togo protesters

Supporters of opposition leader Jean-Pierre Fabre took to the streets

Police in Togo have fired tear gas to disperse protesters, who took to the streets to dispute President Faure Gnassingbe's election victory.

Hundreds of opposition supporters demonstrated against the result on Sunday in the capital, Lome.

Opposition leader Jean-Pierre Fabre, who says the vote was rigged, pledged to continue the protests.

Mr Gnassingbe took power in 2005 after the death of his father, Gnassingbe Eyadema, who had ruled since 1967.

On Saturday, officials announced that he had won 1.2 million votes of two million cast.

Mr Fabre's Union of Forces for Change says opposition supporters were intimidated into staying away from polling stations.

Mr Fabre was at the centre of protests on the weekend and vowed not to give in.

"We're going to make them exhaust their stock of tear gas," the Associated Press quoted him as saying.

"We cannot let this go on, otherwise they'll hang on to power for the next 200 years."

Opposition activists say Mr Fabre will form an alternative government very soon.

EU observers said the election was broadly satisfactory, although they did point to a lack of training among election officials.