Updated

Togo's government said that parliamentary elections would take place in late July after months of delays amid protests by the opposition.

Government spokesman Yacoubou Hamadou said late Friday on state TV that elections will take place on July 21. He said candidates have until June 16 to submit their intentions to run.

Togo's elections were due in October 2012, but the opposition held protests demanding better polling conditions, including dialogue and a new voting list.

An opposition leader Jean-Pierre Fabre told The Associated Press that they will prevent the elections if a consensus is not sought on how to run the process.

Togo, a West African nation that has been led by the same family for nearly half a century, has seen a number of protests in recent months.