Violent protests have erupted in Togo after ruling party candidate Faure Gnassingbe was declared the winner of Sunday's bitterly disputed presidential election.
Soon after the announcement Tuesday opposition supporters and riot police clashed in the streets of the capital, Lome. Protesters looted stores as security forces fired teargas and rubber bullets.
African Union chairman, Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo, urged Mr. Gnassingbe to reach out to the opposition. During talks in Nigeria on Monday, the two sides agreed to form a coalition government.
In Washington, a State Department spokesman Adam Ereli said the United States supports a national unity government in Togo. But he also said Washington is investigating reports of election irregularities.
Togo's election commission says Mr. Gnassingbe won 60 percent of the vote while his main challenger Emmanuel Akitani-Bob took 38%.