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| Senegal set for presidential poll | Senegal set for presidential poll |
| (40 minutes later) | |
| Voters in the West African nation of Senegal go to the polls on Sunday to elect their next president. | Voters in the West African nation of Senegal go to the polls on Sunday to elect their next president. |
| Octogenarian incumbent Abdoulaye Wade is up against 14 candidates as he seeks a second term in office. | Octogenarian incumbent Abdoulaye Wade is up against 14 candidates as he seeks a second term in office. |
| Mr Wade narrowly won elections in 2000, but has come under pressure in recent months over high rural unemployment. | Mr Wade narrowly won elections in 2000, but has come under pressure in recent months over high rural unemployment. |
| Other leading contenders are Moustapha Niasse and the youthful Idrissa Seck, who have both served as prime minister in Mr Wade's administration. | Other leading contenders are Moustapha Niasse and the youthful Idrissa Seck, who have both served as prime minister in Mr Wade's administration. |
| All the time they [the candidates] just talk politics, politics, politics. I don't think the politicians can end our problems - I don't believe in them Yayi Bayam Diouf, voter | All the time they [the candidates] just talk politics, politics, politics. I don't think the politicians can end our problems - I don't believe in them Yayi Bayam Diouf, voter |
| Ousmane Tanor Dieng, who served under the previous president, Abdou Diouf, is also seen as a strong contender. | Ousmane Tanor Dieng, who served under the previous president, Abdou Diouf, is also seen as a strong contender. |
| The BBC's Will Ross in Dakar says that although Mr Wade is seen by many as the favourite, there are several unknown factors. | The BBC's Will Ross in Dakar says that although Mr Wade is seen by many as the favourite, there are several unknown factors. |
| Dakar voices | Dakar voices |
| Senegal, a predominately Muslim nation, is seen as a rare model of stable democracy in Africa. Polls in 2000 passed off peacefully. | Senegal, a predominately Muslim nation, is seen as a rare model of stable democracy in Africa. Polls in 2000 passed off peacefully. |
| Presidential contenders Q&A: Senegal polls | Presidential contenders Q&A: Senegal polls |
| This time five million people will be eligible to vote, using a new electronic voting system. | This time five million people will be eligible to vote, using a new electronic voting system. |
| Voting began at 0800GMT at more than 11,000 polling stations. | Voting began at 0800GMT at more than 11,000 polling stations. |
| Some voters say they again will be backing Mr Wade, pointing that he has started a number of large-scale projects to transform the country. | Some voters say they again will be backing Mr Wade, pointing that he has started a number of large-scale projects to transform the country. |
| "Before Wade we were under a socialist regime for 40 years," says Mamadou Fall, a tailor in Dakar. | "Before Wade we were under a socialist regime for 40 years," says Mamadou Fall, a tailor in Dakar. |
| "But in the last seven years he has done a lot of building roads and bridges. We even have tunnels in Senegal," he added. | "But in the last seven years he has done a lot of building roads and bridges. We even have tunnels in Senegal," he added. |
| Others say the construction projects are doing nothing to address the real needs of the poor Senegalese. | Others say the construction projects are doing nothing to address the real needs of the poor Senegalese. |
| "Unfortunately President Wade started changing the rules of the game and didn't want a level playing field," says Jacques Habib Sy, who runs the organisation Aid Transparency. | "Unfortunately President Wade started changing the rules of the game and didn't want a level playing field," says Jacques Habib Sy, who runs the organisation Aid Transparency. |
| "He appointed four prime ministers in six years and got rid of all the people who supported him in 2000 and that sent out a very wrong signal," he said. | "He appointed four prime ministers in six years and got rid of all the people who supported him in 2000 and that sent out a very wrong signal," he said. |
| Clashes | Clashes |
| The number of voters has almost doubled since the last election and there have been no independent opinion polls. | The number of voters has almost doubled since the last election and there have been no independent opinion polls. |
| And with so many candidates, it may be extremely hard for any of them to get the 50% of votes needed to win outright in a first round, our correspondent says. | And with so many candidates, it may be extremely hard for any of them to get the 50% of votes needed to win outright in a first round, our correspondent says. |
| Campaigning has been for the most part peaceful. | Campaigning has been for the most part peaceful. |
| But earlier this week, clashes in the capital, Dakar, between rival supporters of Mr Wade and Mr Seck left five people seriously injured. | But earlier this week, clashes in the capital, Dakar, between rival supporters of Mr Wade and Mr Seck left five people seriously injured. |
| Do you live in Senegal? Are you voting in the elections? Who would you like to win the election? You can send us your comments with the form below: | |