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Senegal holds contentious election as Abdoulaye Wade runs again Senegal holds contentious election as Abdoulaye Wade runs again
(about 6 hours later)
People in Senegal are set to vote in a presidential election, with incumbent Abdoulaye Wade seeking a controversial third term. People in Senegal are voting in a presidential election, with 85-year-old incumbent Abdoulaye Wade seeking a controversial third term.
Mr Wade's re-election bid sparked protests in which several people died.Mr Wade's re-election bid sparked protests in which several people died.
Last month the country's highest court, the Constitutional Council, announced that he could stand for a third term despite a two-term limit.Last month the country's highest court, the Constitutional Council, announced that he could stand for a third term despite a two-term limit.
The court also barred world-renowned singer, Youssou N'Dour, from standing in the election.The court also barred world-renowned singer, Youssou N'Dour, from standing in the election.
He said that allowing Mr Wade to run amounted to a constitutional coup d'etat.He said that allowing Mr Wade to run amounted to a constitutional coup d'etat.
The court ruled in January that 85-year-old Mr Wade could stand in Sunday's election. Judges said his first term did not count as it had begun before the two-term limit was introduced in 2001. The constitutional court ruled that Mr Wade could stand on the grounds that his first term did not count as it had begun before the two-term limit was introduced in 2001.
International leaders appealed for calm ahead of the vote.
The African Union's envoy, former Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo, proposed that Mr Wade retire after two years if he is elected for another seven-year term, as expected.
But his plan was not accepted by either the president or the opposition.
Once a veteran opposition leader himself, Mr Wade was first elected in 2000 - ending 40 years of rule by the Socialist Party.Once a veteran opposition leader himself, Mr Wade was first elected in 2000 - ending 40 years of rule by the Socialist Party.
Senegal, a former French colony, is seen as a stable democracy with an unbroken series of elections since independence in 1960.Senegal, a former French colony, is seen as a stable democracy with an unbroken series of elections since independence in 1960.
It remains the only West African country where the army has never seized power.It remains the only West African country where the army has never seized power.