Two die in Senegal protests a week before vote

Senegalese riot police fired volleys of tear gas and rubber bullets at stone-throwing demonstrators after prayers at a mosque in Dakar Sunday, in fresh violence a week ahead of presidential elections.

Two were killed in the protests in 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.

Hundreds of angry protesters engaged in a tense, hours-long stand-off with riot police, throwing rocks as police fired tear gas and rubber bullets. Others fed a massive fire using material grabbed from a nearby construction site and tables from market stalls.

Sunday's gathering of the influential Tidiane brotherhood began peacefully, with the group reciting verses from the Koran and praying.

But it degenerated into violence as the crowd reacted to a rumour that a personality who was not named, but who was described as someone close to the government, had arrived, witnesses said.

Controversy

Leaders of the opposition coalition M23 joined in the fellowship's gathering, which was also attended by singer Youssou Ndour, whose presidential candidacy was rejected by the constitutional council.

Ngom described police actions as "regrettable" and a "blunder."

"I would like to present, in my personal name and on behalf of the highest authorities of national police, our most sincere apologies to the caliph" of the Tidiane brotherhood and his followers, he told Senegal's national press agency APS.

"Religious worship should be separated from political action and I would like us, political actors, to distance our demonstrations from the mosques," he said.

Despite having served two terms in office, a limit he himself introduced, Wade says additional changes to the constitution in 2008 mean he can serve two more mandates.

The country's highest legal body, the constitutional council, approved his candidacy on January 27, sparking riots in the capital and elsewhere that have already claimed five lives.

In his campaign, Wade has swept across the country promising universities, roads, airports and massive agricultural projects to win over five million registered voters.

The 13 opposition contenders, which include three of Wade's former prime ministers, have failed to find a consensus candidate before the campaign.

Some 23,000 soldiers and paramilitary police had already begun voting Saturday.

The African Union said it was sending a team of observers led by former Nigerian president Olusegun Obasanjo to Senegal to monitor the February 26 elections.

Some members of the 40-strong team have arrived Saturday, with Obasanjo due to arrive in Dakar Tuesday, said the AU.