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Senegal police crush opposition election protest

27 Jan 2007 12:30:48 GMT
Source: Reuters

DAKAR, Jan 27 (Reuters) - Senegalese riot police beat opposition leaders with batons and fired tear gas at a crowd of protestors demonstrating against President Abdoulaye Wade ahead of presidential elections next month.

A group of around 50 police baton-charged protestors and arrested at least six leaders of opposition parties at the march to demand free and fair polls in the West African state.

The demonstration had been banned on Friday by authorities in Senegal, where the Feb. 25 election has raised tensions in a country regarded as a democratic bastion in a region infamous for civil wars and military coups. Wade, 80, remains favourite to retain power at next month's polls.

"Wade go! Wade go!" chanted protestors before they were dispersed by police.

Dozens of demonstrators scattered through the shabby backstreets of Dakar's poor Medina neighbourhood pursued by riot police, as clouds of tear gas drifted through the air.

"What has happened today is shameful. It is President Wade who said if you are angry you can march," said Ousmane Fall, 20, an accountant. "Look what is happening here. They are beating and firing tear gas at the leaders of our country."

Wade, himself a former opposition leader, has been strongly criticised by his opponents for jailing political rivals and repeatedly postponing legislative elections, amid concerns his coalition could lose its majority.

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Last updated:Sat Jan 27 12:32:28 2007