Riots in Senegal after President Wade is cleared to seek third term

In Senegal, riots broke out last night in the capital Dakar, after the Constitutional Council approved president Abdoulaye Wade's bid for a third term, Agence France Presse reported.

Senegalese authorities say a police officer was killed in clashes between police and protesters, who threw stones and destroyed barricades.

More on GlobalPost: Senegal's Wade 'cleared for 3rd term' as president

Wade made a televised appeal for calm, the BBC reported, and labelled the demonstrations "displays of petulance."

Reuters said street protests in Dakar have spread through towns across Senegal, with youths setting fire to tires and overturning cars.

The Constitutional Council rejected an application from singer Youssou N’Dour to contest next month's polls – saying he had failed to collect the 10,000 signatures needed.

The council approved 13 other candidates, including opposition leaders and former prime ministers.

N'Dour urged his supporters to prevent the elections from proceeding, Reuters reported.

He told his own TFM television channel:

"We will never allow Abdoulaye Wade to take part in the election … The decision to keep me out had nothing to do with the law. It was a political decision and we will reply with a political decision."

The June 23rd opposition movement has called on its supporters to march on the presidential palace in Dakar to have Wad removed.