Senegal police crush opposition election protest
Source: Reuters
(adds comments from rights group, paragraphs 10-13) By Diadie Ba DAKAR, Jan 27 (Reuters) - Senegalese riot police beat opposition leaders with batons and fired tear gas at a crowd of protesters demonstrating against President Abdoulaye Wade ahead of presidential elections next month. A group of around 50 police baton-charged protesters 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 protesters 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." The opposition politicians were freed from Dakar's main police station after more than five hours detention, which had stirred widespread condemnation in the peaceful coastal capital. "President Wade has introduced electric batons (for the riot police) and used them against us but we are going to the elections and the people will decide," Moustapha Niasse, head of the Alliance of Progressive Forces (AFP), said after his release. 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. Senegalese human rights group RADDHO said that Saturday's confrontation was just one of many events suggesting that next month's presidential election will not take place as planned. "Today, the ongoing political manoeuvring at the highest level of the state and the chaotic election process prompt some observers to doubt whether the presidential election will take place on Feb 25," it said in a statement. Last Monday, President Wade announced that his former Prime Minister Idrissa Seck, who had said he would challenge for the presidency after a row between them, agreed to rejoin the ruling Senegalese Democratic Party (PDS). But Seck has not so far confirmed or denied Wade's announcement. RADDHO and some analysts believe the possible postponement of the presidential election would allow the PDS to resolve differences within the party and be more ready for the poll.
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