President Rawlings consoles Togo

Accra, Jan. 12, GNA - Former President Jerry John Rawlings on Tuesday consoled the government and people of Togo over the tragic loss of three members of their national soccer team, the Hawks, in Cabinda, Angola.

In a message addressed to Togolese President Faure Gnassingbe, he said; "News of the tragedy came as a real shock".

President Rawlings condemned the attack and said; "Targeting innocent members of a football team, serves no political purpose," in reference to the Front for the Liberation of Cabinda, which had claimed responsibility of the attack.

"My sincere thoughts and prayers are with members of the team, their families and the people of Togo for the harrowing experience they are going through".

"Football is a game that has symbolically unified us and this tragedy has taken some of the spark out of Africa's most revered sporting event". "I pray that God gives the members of the team and their families strength as they recover from this traumatic experience," he said.

President Rawlings said he was saddened by the news of the attack and wondered if the Confederation of African Football (CAF) had properly weighed the security implications of staging matches in the Cabinda Province.

He said it was unfortunate the Togolese had been blamed for travelling by road as the safety of air transport could also not be guaranteed in a region that still harboured rebel activity.

"I hope that CAF and the Angolan Government would ensure maximum security for the members of the Ghanaian, Burkinabe and Ivorian teams who remain in Cabinda.

"Such security should also be extended to all supporters of the vari= ous teams that are based in Cabinda," he said.