African Nations' Cup championships - The president of the Confederation of African Football (CAF), Issa Hayatou, on Saturday announced the suspension of Togo from the next two African Nations' Cup championships, citing the Lome's forceful withdrawal of its team from CAN 2010.

The Togolese government withdrew the team from the championship in Angola following the armed attack on its players while on their way to Angola through Cabinda.

Travelling by road from Congo to Angola, the Togo team came under a vicious gun attack in which two members of the team, assistant coach Abalo Amelete and press officer Stan Ocloo, and the Angolan bus driver were killed.

Elements of the Angolan separatist Cabinda's Enclave Liberation Front (FLEC) have claimed responsibility for the attack.

According to Hayatou, the decision by the Togo political authorities infringed CAF regulations which state that that any absence notified less than 20 days before the beginning of the finals or during the event shall attract a fine of US$ 50,000 and a two-tournament ban.

PANA reports that even after armed attack, the players decided to participate in the tournament to honour their dead, but the authorities called back the team.

By PANA