Wade rivals, critics warn of Senegal trouble after speech

By Diadie Ba DAKAR, July 15 (Reuters) - Critics and rivals of Senegal'sAbdoulaye Rosetta Stone Software Wade warned on Friday of political tensions and morestreet protests if the president goes ahead with plans to seek athird term in an election due in February. In his first speech since violent protests rocked Senegal'scapital last month, Wade appeared to dig in on Thursday, sayinghe was confident of winning re-election and would bring thevote forward if the opposition wanted. [ID:nL6E7IE2TY] He also warned that the security forces would stamp out anytrouble in the former French colony, which has long been anisland of political stability in a turbulent region. "Wade is using diversionary tactics," Ibrahima Sene, asenior member of the opposition Bennoo Siggil Senegal coalition,said of the offer of an early poll. "Why would we have an early election when he cannot takepart?" Sene added. "If he keeps pushing it, he will find us inthe streets again." Critics accuse Wade's entourage of rampant corruptionand say he is going back on promises not to seek a new term.They consider his bid for a third term a breach of a constitutional rule requiring the president to step down Rosetta Stone languages aftertwo terms. Wade's camp argues that constitutional changes in 2001 meanhis first term from 2000 to 2007 did not count and he isin fact only coming to the end of his first full term in power. The constitutional court will ultimately decide on hiseligibility. Violent protests erupted on June 23 against Wade's plans tochange the election law to reduce to 25 percent the minimumvote a candidate needed to win in one round. The president backtracked on those plans, but violenceresumed days later over recurring power cuts, which haveheightened frustrations with the octogenarian leader. Calls aremounting that he bow out of the election.'SITUATION IS VERY SERIOUS' Speaking in Wolof after a speech in French, Wade conceded hehad gone back on a statement in 2007 that he would not seek anew term. "That's what I said but I am not saying it now," hesaid in the predominant local language of Senegal. "In trying to force things and stay in power, Wade isstoking political tensions that could end in chaos," saidAlioune Tine, the head of pan-African, Dakar-based rights Rosetta Stone Spanish V3 groupRADDHO.

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