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Africa Live: Court hands ex-Liberian rebel leader 30-year sentence - BBC News Africa Live: French court confirms Liberian ex-rebel's conviction - BBC News
(32 minutes later)
Richard Hamilton
BBC World Service newsroom
Police in Togo have broken up an opposition news conference that was called to address a controversial constitutional reform. One of the main opposition leaders in the Central African Republic has been given a one-year suspended prison sentence for defamation and contempt of court.
On Monday, the parliament voted for a new constitution which changes the presidential system to a parliamentary one. Crepin Mboli Goumba, a lawyer and coordinator for the opposition group BRDC, was arrested earlier this month after accusing magistrates of corruption.
But with less than a month before legislative elections, the opposition fears the change will clear the way for the long-serving President, Faure Gnassingbe, to remain in power indefinitely. He was ordered to pay a fine of around $130,000 (£105,000). Prosecutors had sought a one-year jail term for him. His lawyers said they would appeal against the sentencing, AFP news agency reported.
Around 30 police officers armed with truncheons broke up the gathering called by opposition parties and civil society groups on Wednesday. Human Rights Watch has accused President Faustin Archange Touadera's regime of repressing civil society, media and opposition parties.
Police said the event in the capital, Lome, was not authorised.
Nathaniel Olympio, the event organiser, termed the new constitution a "coup" that seeks to deprive the Togolese people of the right to choose their president, AFP news agency reported.
"I call on the Togolese people to stand up and stop this disastrous plan," Mr Olympio said.
It is not clear when the changes, proposed by lawmakers mostly from the ruling Union for the Republic (UNIR), will come into force.
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