DAKAR, March 20 (AFP) - Opposition leader Abdoulaye Wade made a
confident victory speech here Monday, although there was no official
result of Senegal's presidential election.
Speaking to journalists and overjoyed supporters in front of his
Dakar home, Wade, leader of the Senegalese Democratic Party (SDP),
said: "With the figures which I have available, I expect to win with
more than 60 percent of the votes, It's a day of liberation".
While final results are yet to be published, "victory, for the
Senegalese people, has nonetheless been achieved," he added.
"Abdou Diouf and those who lost the election are Senegalese like
the rest of us," he said. The "future ex-leaders" should be treated
with respect, and consideration".
"Senegal is a peaceful land. We thank god that Christians and
Muslims live here in harmony. It is both of them together who have
elected me, he concluded.
With results in from 700 key polling stations out of a total of
8,442 nationwide, Wade had won close to 65 percent of the votes, the
source said.
Such a head start would be difficult for his rival, incumbent
President Abdou Diouf, to make up, even if the ruling Socialist
Party (SP) comes out on top in its traditional rural strongholds, he
added.

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