Ban concerned about tensions in Senegal

UNITED NATIONS,- UN Secretary-General Ban Ki- moon on Tuesday expressed his concern about recent election- related tensions in Senegal, calling on all parties concerned to " create enabling conditions for transparent, credible and peaceful elections" in late February in the West African country.

"The secretary-general is concerned about the upsurge of tensions in Senegal ahead of the presidential election scheduled for 26 February 2012," said a statement by Ban's spokesman Martin Nesirky. "The secretary-general urges all political parties and national stakeholders to refrain from violence in the pursuit of their objectives and to pursue peaceful means to resolve all electoral grievances."

Protests have broken out in the Senegalese capital of Dakar and spread to other cities in the West African country in response to a national court decision that validated the candidacy of President Abdoulaye Wade in the coming election.

"The secretary-general calls upon all concerned actors to create enabling conditions for transparent, credible and peaceful elections that reflect the legitimate concerns and aspirations of the people of Senegal," the statement said. "He stresses the need for the authorities to act in a manner that preserves and consolidates Senegal's democratic traditions, which have laid the foundations for its long history of stability and social cohesion. "