Pre-election violence: Senegal protesters clash with police
Rescue workers took away one man who was unconscious after being hit by a rubber bullet.
DAKAR:
Senegalese riot police fired volleys of tear gas and rubber bullets at hundreds of stone-throwing demonstrators after prayers at a mosque in Dakar Sunday, in fresh violence a week ahead of presidential elections. Rescue workers took away one man who was unconscious after being hit by a rubber bullet, an AFP journalist witnessed. It was the latest violence in days of urban clashes between police and protesters trying to defy a ban and hold demonstrations against 85-year-old President Abdoulaye Wade’s plan to run for a third term in office. Sunday’s clashes erupted outside a mosque, which demonstrators said had been “profaned” when it was hit by tear gas grenades thrown by a police officer on Friday. Senegal’s Interior Minister Ousmane Ngom later apologised for what he described as a “police blunder”, and urged politicians to hold any rallies away from mosques.
Published in The Express Tribune, February 20th, 2012.
Senegalese riot police fired volleys of tear gas and rubber bullets at hundreds of stone-throwing demonstrators after prayers at a mosque in Dakar Sunday, in fresh violence a week ahead of presidential elections. Rescue workers took away one man who was unconscious after being hit by a rubber bullet, an AFP journalist witnessed. It was the latest violence in days of urban clashes between police and protesters trying to defy a ban and hold demonstrations against 85-year-old President Abdoulaye Wade’s plan to run for a third term in office. Sunday’s clashes erupted outside a mosque, which demonstrators said had been “profaned” when it was hit by tear gas grenades thrown by a police officer on Friday. Senegal’s Interior Minister Ousmane Ngom later apologised for what he described as a “police blunder”, and urged politicians to hold any rallies away from mosques.
Published in The Express Tribune, February 20th, 2012.