World leaders condemned Togo?s army yesterday for suspending the West African nation?s constitution and installing a new president following the death of Gnassingbe Eyadema, Africa?s longest serving ruler. UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan said he hoped Togo would ensure a peaceful transfer of power in line with the constitution and African Union leaders branded the appointment of Eyadema?s 39-year-old son by the army a ?military coup?.

The current head of the Economic Community of West African States, Niger?s President Tandja Mamadou, said yesterday ?no argument could justify this seizure of power by force? and urged Togo to re-establish constitutional order. While Togo?s constitution says the head of the national assembly should assume provisional power and elections be held within 60 days, army chiefs instead sealed the country?s borders and invested Faure Gnassingbe on Saturday evening. As word of his death filtered out, residents in the capital Lome hurried home and some expatriate workers checked into hotels, fearing trouble. But calm returned after the army said it was filling an obvious ?power vacuum?.

State television broadcast pictures of Gnassingbe, a civilian who was given the influential post of minister of mines in 2003, shaking hands with the army top brass, which has been filled over the years by members of Eyadema?s northern clan.

Yesterday morning, taxis were circulating normally and residents headed to church. State media played religious music and broadcasts by foreign station Radio France Internationale resumed after an unexplained silence overnight. Meanwhile exiled opposition leader Gilchrist Olympio, the son of Togo?s first president, killed in a 1963 coup led by Eyadema, says: ?Nothing has changed. The struggle continues.?

<B>John ZODZI</B>