Record numbers turned out in Dakar Saturday to demand Senegal's 85-year-old president Abdoulaye Wade ditch plans to run for a third term in office they say is unconstitutional. The veteran leader's supporters were also due to march but opposition to Wade scored an early blow with huge crowds gathering to demand his departure after the February 2012 elections.
"No to a third term for Wade", "Wade go, Wade out" read some of the placards brandished by protesters, who had to move their rally to the suburbs after political gatherings were banned in downtown Dakar earlier this week.
"Wade said (in 2007) he wasn't going to run again, he must respect his word. All Senegal's problems come from him," said protester Alpha Ciss. The president has acknowledged he said that but went on to claim he has the right to change his mind. Police put the crowd at around 10,000 while organisers claimed no fewer than 50,000 protestors had turned out.