Change is the buzzword in presidential campaign

Senegal's eight-man presidential race is being fought over the urgent need for change, with two opposition alliances and various individual parties seeking to sweep away the Parti Socialiste (PS) that has ruled since independence from France in 1960. PS leader Abdou Diouf, who is running for re-election, has formidable foes. One of them is Abdoulaye Wade of the Parti Democratique Senegalais (PDS), who leads a nine-party alliance of mostly leftist orientation called the Coalition Alternance 2000. Another is Moustapha Niasse, head of the Alliance des Forces du Progres (AFP), which has eight parties under its wing. Political analysts say the need for change is the central debate in this campaign. A professor of political science and law at Cheikh Anta Diop University in Dakar, Babacar Gueye, told IRIN the opposition wanted to legitimise the state, fight crime and bring more social and economic benefits to the public. [See separate item titled 'SENEGAL: IRIN Focus on presidential campaign']