1 killed in Togo protests against fuel price hike

LOME, Togo – Amnesty International says at least one person has been killed and several wounded in Togo after police clamped down on demonstrations against a fuel price hike.

The human rights organization on Wednesday condemned the use of force and called for investigations.

Police in the capital, Lome, fired tear gas and rubber bullets Tuesday to disperse hundreds of people who demonstrated. Protesters set tires on fire, burned a bus and threw rocks.

Amnesty says the protests were peaceful until security forces used force.

The government late Tuesday appealed for calm and defended efforts to keep fuel costs low. Fuel in Togo costs about $1 per litre.

A similar rise in fuel prices seven years ago prompted thousands to demonstrate, and clashes at the time with police left two people dead.

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