Wade ruling sparks protests in Senegal

DAKAR, Senegal, Jan. 28 (UPI) -- Senegal's highest court's ruling that President Abdoulaye Wade could run for a third term sparked violent protests, and a policeman was killed, officials said.

Wade, 85, appeared on television to urge calm, labeling the protests "displays of petulance," the BBC reported.

In the capital, Dakar, where the officer was killed, protesters set fire to buildings and barricades.

The country's best-known music star, Youssou N'Dour, was forbidden to run in the election by the highest court.

Wade has already served two terms and the constitution had been amended since he was last elected but he argued the term limit did not apply retrospectively, the BBC said.

After the constitutional court's decision allowing him to run, youths set fire to tires and threw stones at police, who fired tear gas.

Wade's local headquarters in the town of Kaolack has reportedly been burned down.

The BBC said unrest also was reported near Dakar in Thies and Mbour.

Speaking on television, Wade said the February elections would be fair.

"The electoral campaign will be open. There will be no restrictions on freedom," he said. The court said Friday Wade and 13 other candidates could run in the Feb. 26 election.

They include three former prime ministers, Idrissa Seck, Macky Sall and Moustapha Niasse, and the main opposition leader, Ousmane Tanor Dieng.

But the court said Grammy-winning Youssou N'Dour was ineligible because many signatures gathered to support his candidacy could not be verified.

Announcing his candidacy this month, N'Dour said, "The people are fed up with career politicians who almost all enriched themselves with the state's money."