2 Dead in Senegal Protest against Wade Election Bid
Senegal security forces shot dead a 60-year-old woman and a teenager Monday during an opposition protest against octogenarian President Abdoulaye Wade's candidacy for a controversial third term.
A ruling by the constitutional council Friday, which allowed Wade to run but not music icon Youssou Ndour, heightened tensions in the usually stable west African country and prompted international appeals for calm.
Monday's protest took place in Podor, a town 485 kilometers north of Dakar, hours after the constitutional council dismissed appeals against its validation of Wade's candidacy for February 26 polls.
The country's opposition called for mass resistance to force the 85-year-old leader to step aside in the wake of the ruling, which had sparked deadly riots Friday night in which a policeman was killed.
Details on Monday's protest in the distant northern town are sketchy, but sources say it was led by a regional leader of the June 23 Movement (M23) of opposition and civil society groups.
"Banna Ndiaye, 60, was shot in the back and passed away at the Podor hospital. Earlier Mamadou Sy, 17, who was shot in the collarbone, died at the Ndioum hospital (40 kilometers away)," said a police source.
A witness said the woman was "coming from the market" when she stumbled upon the protest. Her death was confirmed by a source at the Podor hospital.
Amid international appeals for calm in one of Africa's most stable nations, M23 on Monday called for "a peaceful gathering ... to demand Wade withdraws his candidacy" on Tuesday at 3:00 pm (1500 GMT) in Dakar.
The statement, entitled "no to a constitutional coup d’état", said the protest would again be held at the Place de l'Obelisque square in the suburb of Colobane, where Friday's rally exploded into violence.
A policeman was killed by rioters during running battles with youths who torched cars and shops, erected barricades and burned tires on Dakar's main roads.
"M23 launches final assault," read the headline of Le Populaire newspaper, while L'As warned: "Threat to civil peace in Senegal."
The opposition argues that the constitution allows a president to serve only two consecutive terms, but Wade says the law, which was amended in 2008, does not apply retroactively and cannot take into account his previous two terms.
The former opposition leader, elected in 2000, has been lambasted for going back on a statement in 2007 that he would step down after two terms.
Wade has remained defiant, dismissing opposition protests as "temper tantrums."
Wade said in a recent interview with a local news website that he needs three more years to complete his projects, fueling speculation that he wants to line up a successor.
He has long been accused of trying to position his 44-year-old son Karim Wade -- already a super-minister in his cabinet -- to fill his shoes.
A U.S. diplomatic dispatch published by WikiLeaks in 2010 warned Senegal was "a weakening democracy," saying that Wade was looking to "open a path to a dynastic presidential succession."
Former colonial power France said Senegal was excluding some groups from the vote after three candidates including Youssou Ndour were rejected by the council.
"France regrets that not all political sensitivities could be represented," foreign ministry spokesman Bernard Valero said.
He also expressed concern over the arrest of prominent human rights activist Alioune Tine, spokesman for M23.
Ndour, the country's most famous export, urged African nations and the rest of the world to protest what he called a "constitutional coup d’état".
"We have been betrayed by this shameful decision" he said.
Aside from Wade, the council approved 13 other candidates including three ex-prime ministers -- Idrissa Seck, Macky Sall and Moustapha Niasse -- and main opposition leader Ousmane Tanor Dieng.
The political leaders, who will be rivals in February's polls, have united in their determination to stop Wade from running, and warned Sunday that "the time for talking is over".
"This is an appeal, a solemn, strong and resolute appeal to engage in resistance. We are ready for all sacrifices," said Amadou Gueye, one of M23's leaders.
Source: Agence France Presse
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