Senegal police fire tear gas as the opposition protests at election delay

By BABACAR DIONE and CHINEDU ASADU
Associated Press

DAKAR, Senegal (AP) — Senegal’s police have fired tear gas at opposition supporters who were protesting against the president’s decision to postpone elections scheduled for Feb. 25. The protesters in the capital of Dakar called on citizens to “defend” democracy amid a push for dialogue by West Africa’s regional bloc known as ECOWAS. Several opposition figures rejected President Macky Sall’s decision to postpone the election. At least two of the 20 presidential candidates said they would proceed with their campaign scheduled to kick off on Sunday. Senegal is seen as a bastion of democracy in West Africa, which has been struggling with a recent surge in coups.