A celebration at the gates of Togolese President Gnassingbe Eyadema's palace turned deadly Saturday, killing at least 13 people as crowds of excited well-wishers tried to surge onto the palace grounds.
Scores of other people were injured in the stampede.
Thousands had gathered for a march through the capital, Lome, to mark the easing of 11 years of European Union sanctions against President Eyadema, Africa's longest-serving leader. As they reached the presidential palace, the gates were opened to admit the marchers, who tried to push past the entrance all at once, trampling one another.
On Monday, the European Union announced it would resume some aid projects in Togo, citing moves by the government to improve democracy and its record on human rights. The EU suspended aid in 1993 in the wake of election violence that killed hundreds of people.
President Eyadema has ruled Togo since taking power in a coup 37 years ago.
Some information for this report provided by AFP and AP.
