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Senegal police crush opposition election protest
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Race
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| Contributor | Patrick |
| Last Edited | Patrick Feb 16, 2007 10:58pm |
| Category | News |
| News Date | Jan 27, 2007 10:00pm |
| Description | DAKAR (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 February 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 favorite 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 neighborhood 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." |
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