Senegal's President Sall wins national assembly landslide

Dakar, 5 Jul - (ANA) - Senegal's new President Macky Sall has won a huge majority in legislative elections, official results show. His Benno Bokk Yakaar (United in Hope) coalition won 119 of the 150 seats. The Senegalese Democratic Party (PDS) of former President Abdoulaye Wade gained only 12 seats, while a breakaway PDS faction won four seats.

After 12 years in power, Mr Wade was defeated by Mr Sall in March's tense elections which saw at least six people killed in anti-Wade protests. Mr Sall had called on voters to give him a large majority in order for him to be able to "resolutely get to work". Turnout was just 37%.

Sixty-four of the new legislators are women, after a law required parties to ensure gender equality on their lists of candidates. Senegal is seen as a beacon of democracy in West Africa and remains the region's only country never to have had a military coup. (ANA)

FA/ANA/05 July 2012---------