(Adds tear gassing, comment from Sall's lawyers) By Diadie Ba DAKAR, Jan 27 (Reuters) - Senegalese police summoned a leading opposition politician for questioning on Tuesday over suspected money laundering, a move critics said highlights growing harassment of challengers to President Abdoulaye Wade. Macky Sall, a former prime minister and speaker of parliament who left Wade's party to head the opposition Alliance for the Republic (APR) late last year, is implicated in a "money-laundering network", the Interior Ministry said. Police fired tear gas at hundreds of Sall's supporters in central Dakar as he was being questioned over the accusations, which his lawyers said were baseless and they would fight. The charge comes weeks ahead of municipal elections and underscores turbulence in Senegalese politics, which critics say is increasingly marked by Wade's attempts to undermine any serious potential challenges to his Democratic Party (PDS). Senegal has long been held up as a model of democracy in a troubled region but analysts say clampdowns on the press and speculation that Wade, 82, is lining up his son, Karim, as a successor point to a president tightening his grip on power. "He (Sall) is still being questioned," APR spokesman Seydou Gueye told Reuters at 1900 GMT. The summons followed a statement from the Interior Ministry on Monday which said the authorities had evidence Sall and another Senegalese man were involved in a money-laundering network. Senegal has enjoyed a reputation for political stability and has a nascent gold- and iron ore-mining industry to add to phosphates production and a thriving port. The country has also profited from chaos in former regional powerhouse Ivory Coast, attracting international businesses and organisations. But social tensions have risen along with economic pressures over the last year, initially due to the high cost of food and fuel, which provoked riots. Wade has been accused of tightening his grip on power through attacks on the media and opposition. "There isn't a single 'eligible' person who might threaten the dauphin who is not currently facing legal charges," Alioune Tine, president of regional rights body RADDHO, told Reuters, referring to Karim Wade. Witnesses said police fired tear gas on Tuesday afternoon at hundreds of APR supporters who had gathered outside the police station in central Dakar where Sall was being questioned. There were no immediate reports of injuries or arrests. Moustapha Diop, a spokesman for Sall's lawyers, said the questioning was part of a campaign to put the opposition politician behind bars and they would fight all charges. Neither the president nor his son, whose only official post is as his father's advisor, have commented on the succession, but speculation about Karim's political ambitions is rife. Karim Wade is standing as a PDS candidate for the local council in the capital Dakar in March 22 municipal elections which are seen as a major test both for Wade's PDS and the opposition, which boycotted parliamentary elections in 2007. Idrissa Seck, another former premier and potential candidate to succeed when Wade's final term ends in 2012, faces fraud charges dating from his time as mayor of the city of Thies. (For full Reuters Africa coverage and to have your say on the top issues, visit: http://af.reuters.com) (Writing by David Lewis; Editing by Jon Boyle)
Soldiers are seen at the military camp Alpha Yaya Diallo in Connakry December 27, 2008. Guinea's military junta was boosted by the endorsement of neighbouring Senegal as it attempted to garner ...
