Togo plans to organise presidential elections within 60 days in line with demands from African leaders, a senior government official said.
   
The official, speaking on condition of anonymity, made the remarks after African diplomats met Togo's new president to press for polls and urge an end to a leadership crisis that has sparked riots and drawn international criticism.
   
Faure Gnassingbe was named president by Togo's army just hours after his father, Gnassingbe Eyadema, died on February 5. The transfer of power was in violation of the West African nation's constitution which was hastily amended.
   
"(The Economic Community of West African States) wanted us to return to the old constitution and that is what we are going to do and in 60 days, elections will be organised in this country," the official said.
   
Under the original constitution, the head of Togo's national assembly should have taken over on the death of Eyadema, Africa's longest serving leader, pending presidential elections in 60 days.
   
African and world leaders had branded the transfer of power a coup and called for a return to the original constitution.