DAKAR, Senegal, March 1 (UPI) -- The desire for change in Senegal will lead to the defeat of incumbent President Abdoulaye Wade in a second round of voting, his opponent said.
Former Prime Minister Macky Sall secured 26.5 percent of the vote compared to 34.8 percent for Wade. Because neither candidate secured a majority, however, a second round of voting is scheduled for March 18.
Sall said he was certain he would unseat the incumbent, who is running for his third term in office.
"I'm sure the desire for change of the Senegalese people will give me the victory in the second round," Sall was quoted by the BBC as saying.
Demonstrators poured into the streets last month after a court ruled Wade could seek a third term. Senegalese law imposes a two-term limit, though a court ruled that Wade can seek a third term because the measure was adopted after his inaugural election in 2000.
The United Nations said it had evidence that at least four people, including a police officer, were killed in Senegal following the court's decision.
Weekend elections were peaceful.
Sall is competing in his first presidential contest. The BBC reports Wade has an uphill battle to secure a third term despite the strong showing in first round of voting.
