Togo has sent separate condolence messages to Ghana, where 130 people were killed in a football stampede on Wednesday and to Benin following the drowning of 30 passengers when a ship sank in Lake Nokoue.

After an extraordinary Cabinet meeting in Lome Thursday, the government sent ministers to convey the condolences in Accra and Cotonou, respectively.

According to a statement issued after the meeting, President Gnassingbe Eyadema had denounced the utilisation of violence in sports by teams, sports officials, supporters and spectators.

According to Eyadema, any form of violence negated the spirit of sports, whose essence was "courage, fighting spirit, mutual respect and fraternity."

The current OAU chairman appealed to all African sportsmen to prevent a recurrence of such painful events which often plunge the continent into mourning."