Sat Feb 18, 2012
Senegalese riot police have attacked opposition activists protesting against President Abdoulaye Wade's bid for a third-term in office.
Riot police fired volleys of tear gas at protesters, who were calling for the departure of the 85-year-old leader on Friday in downtown Dakar.
Police also used grenade launchers to throw tear gas down a wide boulevard in Dakar, hitting a mosque full of worshipers.
Burning tires, debris and rocks filled the streets surrounding Independence Square as police on trucks and on foot chased protesters to prevent them from assembling.
An opposition leader blasted the police violence and called for another demonstration on Saturday.
The activists, who staged the protest in defiance of a government ban, are a part of the June 23 Movement (M23) of opposition and civil society groups that are opposed to Wade's candidacy.
The protesters held their arms up in an X, a symbol used by the opposition activists to indicate the bound hands of the people.
There are fears in Senegal that there may be unrest if Wade is declared the winner of the vote. He has said that he hopes to win a clear majority.
Tensions escalated in Senegal on January 27 after the Constitutional Council, appointed by Wade and known as the “five wise men”, gave the president the green light to run in the February 26 election.
Source: PressTV.
Link: http://edition.presstv.ir/detail/227264.html.
Senegalese riot police have attacked opposition activists protesting against President Abdoulaye Wade's bid for a third-term in office.
Riot police fired volleys of tear gas at protesters, who were calling for the departure of the 85-year-old leader on Friday in downtown Dakar.
Police also used grenade launchers to throw tear gas down a wide boulevard in Dakar, hitting a mosque full of worshipers.
Burning tires, debris and rocks filled the streets surrounding Independence Square as police on trucks and on foot chased protesters to prevent them from assembling.
An opposition leader blasted the police violence and called for another demonstration on Saturday.
The activists, who staged the protest in defiance of a government ban, are a part of the June 23 Movement (M23) of opposition and civil society groups that are opposed to Wade's candidacy.
The protesters held their arms up in an X, a symbol used by the opposition activists to indicate the bound hands of the people.
There are fears in Senegal that there may be unrest if Wade is declared the winner of the vote. He has said that he hopes to win a clear majority.
Tensions escalated in Senegal on January 27 after the Constitutional Council, appointed by Wade and known as the “five wise men”, gave the president the green light to run in the February 26 election.
Source: PressTV.
Link: http://edition.presstv.ir/detail/227264.html.
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