General Assani Tidjani dies in France

Lomé,Togo (PANA) - General Assani Tidjani, former key man in the Togolese regime under late president Eyadema Gnassingbé, died last weekend in France where he had been hospitalized for several months, reliable sources told PANA on Monday in Lomé.

He was also a former chief-of-staff.

General Tidjani, an influential person in the Togolese army for decades, fell in disgrace after being accused of "breach of national defence" involving Kpatcha Gnassingbé, half-brother of current president Faure Gnassingbé, as well as about 20 officers from the Togolese army in 2009.

He was jailed for 20 years last year. He died following his illness.

Born in Lomé but of Nigerian Yoruba origin, he will be buried in Nigeria against his will, say sources close to his family.
-0- PANA FAA/TBM/SOC/MSA/MA 10Dec2012