Togolese opposition activists light tyres and set up barricades in a Lome neighborhood. (Xinhua/AFP Photo)

    LOME, April 24 (Xinhuanet) -- Togo voted Sunday to elect a new president amid scattered violence and there are fears that more street violence may appear when the winner is declared.

    Leading candidate Faure Gnassingbe, the 39-year-old son of Togo's late President Gnassingbe Eyadema, ran against a coalition of six opposition parties in the poll after 38 years of rule by Eyadema, Africa's longest-serving head of state.

    At several polling stations in Lome, supporters of rival candidates clashed after they traded accusations of fraud and intimidation. One person was blinded at a polling station after being sprayed with sulfuric acid by a supporter from the other side.

Opposition coalition candidate Emmanuel Akitani Bob (L), casts his ballot in Lome, April 24. (Xinhua/AFP photo)

    As night fell in the capital, burning tires blocked a road leading to opposition strongholds and heavily-armed soldiers patrolled in pickups with mounted machine guns.

    Gnassingbe was installed as president by the army in February shortly his father's death, but stepped down in late February amid violent street protests and under mounting international pressure.He hoped to make a comeback in the presidential elections, running as the candidate of the Rally for the Togolese People, the ruling party established by his father.

    "The majority of Togolese want calm and above all peace," Gnassingbe said after voting at a school.

Togolese wait to cast their ballot in Lome. Togo voted Sunday to elect a new president amid scattered violence and there are fears that more street violence may appear when the winner is declared.

    While there was no massive outburst of violence, three people were killed in clashes in the capital, press reports said.

    The polls closed at 1700 GMT and the turnout was high. In the morning, long lines snaked outside most polling stations.

    "The turnout stood at 52 percent by 1 p.m. (local time) and the polling stations opened as scheduled," said acting Interior Minister Katari Foli-Bazi.

    Counting was to start immediately, but electoral officials saidit could take several days for results to be announced.

    UN PRAISES SUCCESSFUL CONCLUSION OF ELECTION

    UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan welcomed the presidential election in Togo on Sunday, saying "the successful and peaceful conclusion" of the polling process would contribute to the country's future stability and prosperity, a UN spokesman said at the UN headquarters in New York.

    "Given the deep emotions felt by the different candidates and their supporters during the difficult electoral campaign, the secretary-general commends the sense of political and civic responsibility demonstrated by the leaders and the population," the spokesman said in a statement.

    As the country's population awaits the official results, Annan appealed for calm and urged the parties to refer any electoral disputes to the appropriate authorities in accord with the Electoral Code, the spokesman added.

    The secretary-general considers that "the successful and peaceful conclusion of the election would provide the people of Togo and their international partners with a sound platform on which to build a stable transition towards sustainable national reconciliation, political stability and economic recovery," the spokesman said.

    Annan has been closely following the political situation in Togo ever since the death of Eyadema on Feb. 5, calling on the country to respect its own constitution, which provides that the president of the National Assembly shall become acting president until new elections are held within 60 days.

    The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) imposed sanctions on Togo on the grounds that the army bypassed the constitution and put Gnassingbe into the office of the president.

    Ahead of the election, opposition supporters demanded a delay and deadly battles between rival supporters armed with machetes and clubs were witnessed.

    Interior Minister Francois Esso Boko was fired Friday after he issued a surprise call for the delay of the poll. Boko, who was incharge of security, said it would help avoid bloodshed as he termed the poll as "a suicide."

    Some analysts predict that more violence would take place if Gnassingbe is declared as the winner. Enditem