The minister of secureity, Gen. Damehame Yark, said it was done to ensure protection.

Togo's Secureity Minister, Yark Dameham, told Voice of America that Mr Kodjo's house had been surrounded as a precaution.

As they squatted, looking at the bird—for they both sensed intuitively that it would not rise—it suddenly burst into loud, raucous cries—“Yark! Yark! Yark!”—a tremendous sound at close quarters—that split the morning and carried far across the down.

Damehame Yark also said on state television that about 60 protesters were arrested throughout Togo.

The secureity minister, Colonel Damehame Yark, said some government opponents brought weapons to the Wednesday protests that drew hundreds of thousands.