Brussels, 23/02/2005 (Agence Europe) - In Strasbourg on 23 February, MEPs Catherine Trautmann and Marie-Arlette Carlotti (French Socialists) received a delegation of members of the opposition party of Togo, representatives of the Togolese Human Rights League and associations of women, students and political refugees fighting for democracy in Togo, according to a press release (see the Luxembourg Presidency's statement above). The press release states that both MEPs took the opportunity to reiterate the position of the French socialists (who, they say, “clash with the prevarication and embarrassed silences of the French authorities” on developments in Togo since the death of President Eyadema. They called for the immediate departure of Faure Gnassingbé (who has been proclaimed president) and a “return to constitutional legality with a resumption of dialogue between all Togolese political forces, a prerequisite for free and democratic elections, which the Togolese people expect”. Both MEPs also drew the attention of the President of the European Parliament, Josep Borrell, and that of European Commissioner for Development Louis Michel to the fate of the leaders of the democratic opposition in Togo and of Togolese journalists whose radio and television stations have been closed down by the military in power.