Togo's Gilchrist Olympio for opposition council Friday

Gilchrist Olympio, leader of the Togolese opposition Forces for Change (UFC), who is exiled in Paris, is expected to return home Friday to participate UFC's national council scheduled 3-4 February in Lome, party officials said here Wednesday.

"Mr Olympio will arrive in Lome via the Ghanaian border, Aflao, at about 2pm approximately. He will preside over the entire deliberations of the council. 

On Sunday, 4 February, in the afternoon, he will preside over a rally that will probably be organised at 'Place Fréau', in Lomé", Patrick Lawson, UFC's third vice-president said. UFC will seize the opportunity offered by its national council to "organise party members to participate in the next legislative elections" scheduled for  2007, according to Lawson. 

Olympio will later proceed to the inner part of the country, more specifically to Aneho (south-west), Atakpame (centre), Sokode and Mango (north), that were affected by the violence that erupted in 2005, in the aftermath of the presidential election, "to comfort those who were wounded or lost their belongings," he added. 

After the UFC declined proposals to participate in the government following the appointment of opposition politician Yaovi Agboyibor as Prime Minister of the national unity government, in conformity with the political agreements signed in Ouagadougou, in August 2006.