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Momodou
Denmark
11780 Posts |
 Posted - 27 Jan 2007 : 17:13:55
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The following is culled from Aljazeera
Senegal crushes opposition protest
SATURDAY, JANUARY 27, 2007
16:56 MECCA TIME, 13:56 GMT
Police arrested at least six leaders of opposition parties [AFP]
Senegalese riot police have beaten opposition leaders with batons and fired tear gas at a crowd of protesters demonstrating against Abdoulaye Wade, the current president.
Police also arrested at least six leaders of opposition parties on Saturday at a march to demand that presidential polls next month will be free and fair.
The demonstration had been banned on Friday by authorities in Senegal due to what they said was a lack of security.
The election due on February 25 has raised tensions in the West African country, which is regarded as a democratic bastion in a region infamous for civil wars and military coups.
Wade, 80, is seeking re-election and remains favourite to retain power at next month's polls.
But hundreds of protesters chanted "Wade go! Wade go!" 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.
Wade, himself a former opposition leader, has been strongly criticised by his opponents for jailing political rivals and repeatedly postponing legislative elections, amid concerns that his coalition could lose its majority.
Source: http://english.aljazeera.net/News/
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A clear conscience fears no accusation - proverb from Sierra Leone |
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