Senegal police fire teargas at anti-govt protesters

Senegal police fire teargas at anti-govt protesters

Following a protest staged by students and other protesters over a controversial vote on constitutional change by lawmakers, Senegal riot police were reported to have fired tear gas and water cannon to disperse several hundred anti-government demonstrators in the capital, Dakar on Thursday.

The protesters were said to have gathered outside Senegal National Assembly building where the lawmakers were due to vote shouting “liberate Senegal'' and throwing rocks.  

Guaranteeing re-election

Report say the government of octogenarian President Abdoulaye Wade, was seeking to alter the constitution to reduce the minimum percentage of votes required to win the presidency in the first round of next year's election to 25 per cent from over 50 per cent.

His critics say the changes will virtually guarantee his re-election against a fragmented opposition that is unlikely to present a unified candidate for the first round.

Wade was also said to be seeking to create the position of vice president, which his rivals say is being made so he can pass on power to his son Karim, who is already a “super minister'' in charge of a quarter of the nation's budget.

NAN/Shakira