Presidential campaign in Senegal - France on Wednesday called for a peaceful presidential campaign and election in Senegal slated for February. The deputy spokesman of the French ministry of foreign affairs, Romain Nadal, said on Wednesday in Paris at a press briefing that his country wished that the polls, in which the 85-year old incumbent president Abdoulaye Wade, was a candidate, was transparent.

'We are mindful of the smooth-running of the electoral process. Several election observer missions will be deployed (during the election) with Senegal's agreement,' he said.

The French minister of foreign affairs, Alain Juppé, said on Tuesday that his country was totally neutral in the organisation of the election while wishing that it would be 'as transparent as can be'.

The Senegalese music star, Youssou Ndour, announced Monday evening his candidature in the polls.

Other candidates the former Prime ministers Moustapha Niasse, Idrissa Seck and Macky Sall.

Pana 05/01/2012