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Counting starts in Senegal vote Senegal awaits election outcome
(about 4 hours later)
Vote counting is under way in Senegal's presidential election, with early results expected from Monday. Vote counting is under way in Senegal's presidential election, with partial results giving President Abdoulaye Wade a lead over his 14 challengers.
Some polling stations were allowed to stay open for an extra four hours after experiencing long queues or delays. But it is still too early to say if Mr Wade will reach the 50% needed to win in the first round of voting.
Incumbent Abdoulaye Wade is up against 14 rivals as he seeks a second term. He has come under pressure in recent months over high rural unemployment. Mr Wade, who is seeking a second term, has come under pressure in recent months over high rural unemployment.
Mr Wade predicted a victory but it was thought unlikely that the first round would see an outright win. Turnout was high and some polling stations stayed open an extra four hours to cope with the queues.
Other leading contenders are Moustapha Niasse and the youthful Idrissa Seck, who have both served as prime minister in Mr Wade's administration. Mr Wade sounded confident after he cast his vote and as the counting progressed he was quick to claim victory.
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 But as the results trickle in, President Wade, who came from behind to win in the last election, will be well aware of the danger of a second round, says the BBC's Will Ross in Dakar.
Ousmane Tanor Dieng, who served under the previous president, Abdou Diouf, is also seen as a strong contender. class="" href="/1/hi/world/africa/6379847.stm">Presidential contenders class="" href="/1/hi/world/africa/6382059.stm">Q&A: Senegal polls
The BBC's Will Ross in Dakar says that although Mr Wade is seen by many as the favourite, there are several unknown factors. Since that election, which saw a rare transfer of power in Africa from one leader to a rival, President Wade has fallen out with several of his allies, some of whom were on the ballot papers.
Two of them were Moustapha Niasse and the youthful Idrissa Seck, who have both served as prime minister in Mr Wade's administration.
Ousmane Tanor Dieng, who served under the previous president, Abdou Diouf, was also seen as a strong contender.
New systemNew system
Senegal, a predominately Muslim nation, is seen as a rare model of stable democracy in Africa. It is the only West African nation not to have experienced a coup since independence, and polls in 2000 passed off peacefully.Senegal, a predominately Muslim nation, is seen as a rare model of stable democracy in Africa. It is the only West African nation not to have experienced a coup since independence, and polls in 2000 passed off peacefully.
President Abdoulaye Wade is seeking a second term in office
This time five million people were eligible to vote, using a new electronic voting system.This time five million people were eligible to vote, using a new electronic voting system.
Presidential contenders Q&A: Senegal polls
The system should make the processing of results faster and easier, but our correspondent says there has been some concern over the accuracy of this new and as yet untested voting method.The system should make the processing of results faster and easier, but our correspondent says there has been some concern over the accuracy of this new and as yet untested voting method.
Our correspondent says that after voting began at 0800GMT on Sunday, lengthy queues formed at more than 11,000 polling stations across the country, many of which are schools. Our correspondent says that after voting began at 0800GMT on Sunday, lengthy queues formed at more than 11,000 polling stations across the country.
Dakar voices
Some voters said they would again be backing Mr Wade, pointing that he had started a number of large-scale projects to transform the country.Some voters said they would again be backing Mr Wade, pointing that he had started a number of large-scale projects to transform the country.
"Before Wade we were under a socialist regime for 40 years," said Mamadou Fall, a tailor in Dakar.
President Abdoulaye Wade is seeking a second term in office"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.
"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
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.
Do you live in Senegal? Did you vote in the elections? Who would you like to win the election? You can send us your comments with the form below:Do you live in Senegal? Did you vote in the elections? Who would you like to win the election? You can send us your comments with the form below:
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