Governments ask nationals to stay indoors

The governments of Britain, France and other countries have asked their nationals to remain indoors in anticipation of growing violence before the presidential polls on Sunday. Opponents of the ruling Parti socialiste (PS) burned two houses on Thursday belonging to the PS mayor of Rufisque, some 25 km east of Dakar, the head of a human rights organisation told IRIN. The same day in Thies, a town some 70 km east of the capital, rival PS and Parti democratique senegalais (PDS) supporters burnt each others' party offices. The human rights official, Alioune Tine, executive secretary of the Rencontre Africaine pour la defense des droits de l'homme, said three people were shot and wounded during the fracas. This incident occurred before incumbent President Abdou Diouf and his staunchest rival, PDS leader Abdoulaye Wade, made campaign stops in the town. Last week the offices of the Parti liberal senegalais (PLS) headed by Ousmane Ngom was burnt down. Ngom, a former lieutenant of Wade, has now thrown his weight behind the PS. President Diouf, facing the greatest challenge since assuming power in 1981 has appealed for calm and has said he would support the winner of the election. "This is the first time he has publicly envisaged defeat," Tine said.