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Senegal: Buildings torched in power cut riots | |
(about 3 hours later) | |
Protests have broken out in the Senegalese capital Dakar and in the southern city of Mbour over continuing power shortages. | Protests have broken out in the Senegalese capital Dakar and in the southern city of Mbour over continuing power shortages. |
In Dakar, several government buildings were set on fire including the offices of the state electricity firm, Senelec. | |
Security forces in Mbour fired tear gas to disperse thousands of demonstrators. | Security forces in Mbour fired tear gas to disperse thousands of demonstrators. |
The trouble over power cuts, which have lasted 48 hours in some areas, come just a week after rioting against the president. | The trouble over power cuts, which have lasted 48 hours in some areas, come just a week after rioting against the president. |
"Hundreds of young people ransacked the Senelec office and burned it," Dakar resident Ismail Diop told Reuters news agency. | "Hundreds of young people ransacked the Senelec office and burned it," Dakar resident Ismail Diop told Reuters news agency. |
Broken bottles, scattered debris and burning tyres littered the streets, witnesses said. | Broken bottles, scattered debris and burning tyres littered the streets, witnesses said. |
In Mbour, about 80km (50 miles) south-east of Dakar, electricity company premises were also a target. Witnesses said the Senelec offices there were wrecked and cars outside attacked. | |
Senelec has been unable to satisfy demand for electricity for years. | Senelec has been unable to satisfy demand for electricity for years. |
Surprise | |
Just last week there were riots in Dakar, triggered by a proposal from President Abdoulaye Wade to change the constitution. | Just last week there were riots in Dakar, triggered by a proposal from President Abdoulaye Wade to change the constitution. |
They were the most serious protests of Mr Wade's 11-year rule. | They were the most serious protests of Mr Wade's 11-year rule. |
He had wanted to reduce the percentage of votes needed to win a presidential election - and avoid a run-off - from more than 50% down to a 25% threshold. | He had wanted to reduce the percentage of votes needed to win a presidential election - and avoid a run-off - from more than 50% down to a 25% threshold. |
Critics said the amendment was designed to ensure that President Wade, 85, would be re-elected next year against a fractured opposition. | |
Mr Wade came to power in democratic elections, but he now faces growing anger at daily power cuts and the rising cost of living. | Mr Wade came to power in democratic elections, but he now faces growing anger at daily power cuts and the rising cost of living. |
"We are demonstrating because we cannot bear it anymore. We are spending full days without power," a woman demonstrating in Dakar on Monday told the BBC's French Service. | |
"When we demonstrated, the president withdrew his reform - so now we are going to protest for his resignation and that of his government." | |
The BBC's Samba Dialimpa Badji in Dakar says Monday's demonstrations came as a surprise to many people. | |
Unlike last week's protests, which had civil society and opposition backing, the riots on Monday were spontaneous, he says. | |
They started in one district of the capital after a long power cut, when news of this was broadcast on the radio the trouble spread to other areas of Dakar and to Mbour. | |
The protests started at about 1600 GMT and lasted until about midnight. | |
Young men erected barricades on the many roads, burning tyres, as well as setting alight buildings, our reporter says. | |
The power failures are having a big impact on people's lives, he says. | |
Businesses are also affected and offices without generators often do not open because of the cuts. |
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