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White House calls for fair elections in Senegal

23 February 2012 18:53 (UTC +04:00)

Baku-APA. The White House on Thursday called for fair elections in Senegal in order to ensure that they "reflect the will" of its people, APA reports quoting Xinhua.

"As Senegal’s citizens go to the polls on February 26, we call on Senegalese authorities to uphold internationally-recognized electoral standards to ensure that these elections reflect the will of the Senegalese people," White House press secretary Jay Carney said in a statement.

"We encourage all registered Senegalese voters to make their voices heard by casting their ballot, and to do so peacefully," he said.

Carney called on the Senegalese security forces to "exercise restraint and refrain from any violence," expressing regret over the loss of life in the demonstration.

Deadly clashes between security forces and protesters who are opposed to the third term for incumbent President Abdoulaye Wade broke out on Sunday afternoon in the Dakar city center and spread to other parts of the capital.

The protests broke out at a time when the country’s military and paramilitary officers voted over the weekend to support Wade’s re-election bid.