LOME, March 8 (Xinhua) -- Jean Pierre Fabre, the candidate for Togo's biggest opposition United Forces for Change (UFC), said on Sunday he would soon name a prime minister despite the provisional results showed that he had lost in Thursday's presidential election.

According to the National Independent Electoral Commission (CENI), which has the mandate to publish the results, the 58-year- old UFC chief scored only 33.94 percent of the vote, far behind outgoing President Faure Gnassingbe, who was re-elected with 60.92 percent.

In a statement by the UFC-led four-party coalition, the Republican Front for Change (FRAC), Fabre claimed himself the "president-elect," rejecting the provisional results unveiled by CENI.

He declared that the appointment of a prime minister is a "timely thing" that will help "to preserve social peace" in Togo.

Fabre made the statement while the opposition was staging protests on the streets against the provisional results, which he dismissed as "neither verified nor validated."

"This is obviously an electoral fraud," the statement said, accusing CENI of declaring results other than from the ballot boxes.

"Beginning today, the fight to take over power will be an everyday affair," said the statement signed by Kofi Yamgnane, the spokesperson of FRAC.

On Sunday, the security forces used tear gas to disperse supporters of the UFC. Sources close to the UFC and FRAC said 10 members of the opposition were arrested, including Adja Gerard, an advisor to the leader and candidate of the Organization to Build Togo in Unity and Solidarity (OBUTS), and those from the Citizens' Movement for Change (MCA).

Adja was arrested when he was found in possession of "materials that were calling for civil disobedience," a senior official of the presidential election security forces (FOSEP) explained.

FOSEP also confirmed that some members of MCA were apprehended when they were preparing to carry out acts of violence.