The African Union's Peace and Security Council on Friday lifted a three-month old sanctions against Togo, declaring the government there constitutional.

"The Peace and Security Council has decided to lift sanctions against Togo," said AU commissioner for peace and security, Said Djinnit.

"Togo is no longer suspended from taking part in the activities of the African Union," Djinnit said in a statement released from the AU headquarters in Ethiopia.

"It is the decision of the Peace and Security Council that the conditions in Togo are considered constitutional," he said after a closed meeting of the council.

The sanctions were imposed after the army installed Faure Gnassingbe as the country's leader after the death of his father, Togo's long-serving president Gnassingbe Eyadema, in February.

However, the move triggered massive street protests and international condemnation. The 53-member Pan-African body suspended Togo's membership and imposed travel ban on Togolese leaders and economic sanctions against the country. Western countries also voiced concerns.

The pressure forced Gnassingbe to step down, and the country held general polls on April 24. Early this month, Togo's constitutional court announced Gnassingbe has received 60 percent of the vote.

However, the opposition wasn't in the mood of declaring defeat. They said they wouldn't consider a unity government before their concerns over the fairness of the election were addressed, although Gnassingbe supports the formation of a coalition government.

West African leaders hosted talks last week between Gnassingbe and the opposition to bring an end to the crisis, but an agreement to form a coalition government wasn't reached.

Source: Xinhua