Protests continue in Togo

By davicole

Thousands of people are again demonstrating in Togo's major cities.

They want the departure of the country's president, whose family has been in power for 50 years.

The security forces are out in large numbers. They've closed off Lome's major streets and traffic circles.

For the second day running, groups of protesters are staging several small marches around the capital.

There's been violence elsewhere with protesters burning the houses of people perceived to be close to the regime.

In the northern town of Mango, tear gas was used to scatter demonstrators and dozens of people were injured.

Human rights activists say a child was killed in Mango on Wednesday when security forces opened fire with live ammunition.

Opposition leader Jean-Pierre Fabre wants more demonstrations next Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday.

''We will continue our struggle until the end,'' he told his supporters in Lome.

Faure Gnassingbe has been president since of Togo since 2005. He succeeded his father Gnassingbe Eyadema who seized power in a military coup in 1967.