Dakar, Senegal - The Election Observation Mission of the European Union (EOM/EU), deployed to monitor Sunday's presidential election in Senegal, has called for an end to the violence that has wracked the West African nation in recent weeks.

In a statement issued here Tuesday. EOM/EU said it made the call 'as a result of incidents that killed six people in the country following riots which erupted since January 27'.

It also deplored the use of violence by both police and by the demonstrators.

The mission expressed concern over the ban on demonstrations by the Ministry of Interior, and stressed the need to ensure that peace prevails so that Senegalese voters can exercise their right to vote with confidence.

Senegal has been plagued by violent demonstrations since the 27 Jan. validation by the Constitutional Council of the candidacy of incumbent President Abdoulaye Wade for the election, which will feature 13 opposition candidates.

The demonstrations have so far led to over a dozen deaths in different cities across the country.

Pana 22/02/2012