Adebayor has made the decision in the wake of the attack on the Togo team during this year's African Nations Cup, in which three people were killed.

A statement from the 26-year-old on City's official website read: "Following the tragic events during January's African Cup of Nations, in which two of my fellow countrymen were killed by terrorists in Angola, I have made the very difficult decision to retire from international football.

"I have weighed up my feelings in the weeks and months since the attack and I am still haunted by the events which I witnessed on that horrible afternoon on the Togo team bus.

"We were just footballers going to play a football match and represent our country, yet we were attacked by people who wanted to kill us all.

"It is a moment I will never forget and one I never want to experience again."

Adebayor added: "For nine years I have played for the Togo team and, despite the events in Angola, I have some very good memories of my international career.

"I feel very proud to have been trusted with the position of captain of the Togolese football team. Leading your country in international competition is the ultimate honour for any player.

"Togo have some very talented players and I dearly hope the players who remain will be able to put their memories of Angola behind them and go on to be a success for the nation.

"I have enormous belief in each and every one of them, players, coaches, staff and their families.

"The people who were on that coach together will forever be joined by a special bond - we are all brothers.

"I will always have the team and the people of Togo close to my heart and wish them every success in the challenges that they will face in the future."

The attack, which happened as the team travelled by bus to Angola for the start of the continental showpiece, saw terrorists open fire on the coach in the Cabinda region.

An assistant coach and the team's press officer - plus the coach's Angolan driver - were killed and defender Serge Akakpo and goalkeeper Kodjovi Obilale were among a number of passengers injured.

Obilale was initially reported to have been killed but was flown to a South African hospital for life-saving surgery and remained there for two months, with Adebayor paying for the GSI Pontivy player's partner and sister to travel to South Africa and accompany him during his recovery.

The separatist group The Front for the Liberation of the Enclave of Cabinda (FLEC), who were at first reported to have claimed responsibility for the attack, later denied they carried it out.

Adebayor said at the time: "We saw military people dressed like they were going to war and it was a little bit of a shock at the beginning, but I thought 'okay, it's for security which is normal, because we are players here for a big tournament and we are like ambassadors for Africans so it's normal that security is big'.

"We went through the border and got into Angola and, I don't know, 5km away from the border we started hearing shooting on the bus, for no reason. At the end of the day we got a lot of (people) injured."

Togo pulled out of the tournament in the wake of the attack and were banned by the Confederation of African Football for the next two editions, a sanction over which they are currently embroiled in an appeal process.