Candidacy of Senegal's Wade now critics' target (Reuters)

By David Lewis and Diadie Ba DAKAR (Reuters) - Having forced a dramatic U-turn over constitutional changes, the rivals and critics of Senegalese President Abdoulaye Wade are set to intensify their campaign to block him from standing in next year's election. David Lewis And Diadie Ba Dakar (reuters) - Having Forced A Dramatic U-turn Over Constitutional Changes, The Rivals And Critics Of Senegalese President Abdoulaye Wade Are Set To Intensify Their Campaign To Block Him From Standing In Next Year's Election. – 13 mins ago

The capital Dakar was calm on Friday after violent street protests on Thursday had forced Wade to abandon proposed changes to the election law that appeared designed to smooth his path to re-election in February 2012.

The protests, which injured more than 100, has energized his vocal but mostly disorganized opponents, and may herald a turbulent run-up to the election in a country that has been spared the strife of many others in West Africa.

"The battle that was won does not put an end to our fight to restore law and order ... and legitimacy," the leaders of the campaign group "Don't touch my constitution!," which had led the protests, said in a statement.

"One last battle remains: to make sure ... Wade does not try and impose his candidacy in 2012. This would be illegal, illegitimate, inopportune and dangerous for the stability of Senegal and the sub-region."

After years in opposition, Wade came to power in 2000 and is coming to the end of his second term. His supporters argue that constitutional changes in 2001 mean that the first term did not count, so he is eligible to stand in next year's poll.

This, and the proposed changes to the election law, have angered many in a country that has enjoyed decades of peace. But basic services like water and electricity remain poor in sprawling neighborhoods, while an elite appear to prosper.

"The people have taken back power" read a headline on Friday in the daily newspaper Le Populaire.

In an editorial headlined "The end of a myth," private newspaper Walfadjiri said Thursday's protests marked a sea change and were an unprecedented show of anger against the president.

"(Wade) can no longer count on the apathy of the armchair opponents to modify the laws of the country as he wishes," the newspaper said.

The Benno Siggil Senegal opposition coalition, which has long struggled to build a united position against Wade, says it is going to insist Wade does not stand in next year's poll.

DISAPPOINTING DESPITE PROMISE

Over the last decade, Senegal has become an increasingly important regional hub for business and international organisations. It has a eurobond and is a strategic partner for Western nations in a turbulent region.

J. Peter Pham, director of the U.S.-based Michael S. Ansari Africa Center think tank, said Wade had disappointed after coming to power with "extraordinary promise."

"His stubbornness and rather blatant attempt to foist a dynasty on the Senegalese people may well prove the ruination of a wonderful country if he gets the third term that he himself declared unconstitutional just a few years ago," Pham said.

Aside from trying to reduce from 50 to 25 percent the minimum needed to win in the first round, Wade had sought to introduce the role of vice president, which critics said might have been filled by his powerful and unpopular son, Karim.

Top donors the EU and the U.S. issued public statements of concern this week over the planned constitutional changes, saying they needed broader public debate.

A senior international business executive said firms were watching the situation closely, especially in the context of uprisings in North Africa.

"It is business as usual today ... But things could get nasty if (the opposition) pushes on that (Wade's candidacy)."

(Writing by David Lewis; Editing by Richard Valdmanis and Robert Woodward)

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U.N.'s Ban to announce candidacy for 2nd term: envoys (Reuters)

UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) – Ban Ki-moon is planning to formally announce his candidacy for a second five-term as U.N. secretary-general early next week, U.N. diplomats said on Saturday.

The former South Korean foreign minister had already received assurances of support from the United States and other key members of the U.N. Security Council, diplomats said in March, making his re-election all but certain.

U.N. diplomats said on condition of anonymity that Ban planned to meet on Monday morning with the so-called Asia Group, a cluster of U.N. member states that includes nations from Asia and the Middle East, to discuss his candidacy.

Afterward, he will hold a news conference at which he will announce publicly he is running for a second term after his first term ends on December 31. Ban is unopposed so far.

"I think Ban Ki-moon's chances of winning a second term under the circumstances are as close to 100 percent as you can get," a Security Council diplomat told Reuters.

Officially, U.N. secretaries-general are elected by the 192-nation U.N. General Assembly on the recommendation of the Security Council.

In reality, it is the five permanent veto-wielding council members -- Britain, China, France, Russia and the United States -- that decide who gets the top U.N. job.

The decision by the five is then rubber-stamped by the full 15-nation council and the assembly, U.N. diplomats said. The formal re-election process for Ban should be over by the end of June, they added.

Ban's understated approach and less-than-perfect English set him apart from his more outspoken predecessor, Kofi Annan, who ran afoul of the administration of then-U.S. President George W. Bush for declaring the 2003 invasion of Iraq "illegal."

But diplomats praise Ban for his energetic support for the fight against climate change and push for nuclear disarmament.

Over the past four years, Ban has been accused by human rights groups of putting too much faith in quiet diplomacy. They have also criticized him for not taking China and other countries to task for what they say are rampant rights abuses.

The secretary-general was hit with a barrage of criticism last year when he failed to mention human rights or the jailing of Nobel Peace Prize laureate Liu Xiaobo during a meeting with Chinese President Hu Jintao in China. Ban never congratulated Liu or called for the dissident's release.

But the secretary-general's recent support for military intervention in Libya and Ivory Coast, and his public statements of support for pro-democracy demonstrators in North Africa and the Middle East, increased his standing in the United States and Europe, although it clearly annoyed Russia and China.

Still, Russia and China have no serious objections to a second term for Ban and are expected to back him, envoys said.

(Editing by Peter Cooney)

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Rival to FIFA president drops candidacy

Mohammad bin Hammam of Qatar dropped out of the race to head FIFA.Mohammad bin Hamman says he's no longer running to become FIFA's presidentHe'd been the only person challenging incumbent Sepp Blatter, in office since 1998He says it is unrelated to his being accused of bribery, calling the claims "baseless"He and Blatter will be queried during Sunday's hearing of FIFA's ethics committee

(CNN) -- The Qatari man who had been the sole challenger to incumbent Sepp Blatter in the race to run FIFA announced early Sunday that he was dropping his candidacy, hours before the start of an ethics hearing involving both men.

Mohammad bin Hammam announced his decision on his blog, seemingly clearing the way for the 75-year-old Blatter to retain the position he's held as head of world football's governing body since 1998. The election is set for June 1.

"I set out my goals and ambitions clearly to further the cause of democracy within FIFA through a commitment to transparency and accountability," said bin Hammam, the head of the Asian Football Confederation. "In addition to this, I wanted to spark a debate about change in FIFA.

"However, recent events have left me hurt and disappointed -- on a professional and personal level," he added. "I cannot allow the (game) that I loved to be dragged more and more through the mud, because of competition between two individuals."

The Qatari man and Jack Warner, who runs the CONCACAF federation covering Central and North America, are scheduled to be questioned later Sunday by FIFA's ethics committee in Zurich, Switzerland. FIFA executive committee member Chuck Blazer has accused both of bribery related to a meeting they held with the Caribbean Football Union on May 10 and 11.

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Bin Hammam has denied any wrongdoing, claiming the allegations are all part of a conspiracy to discredit his bid to become FIFA president. Blatter, a Swiss national, wrote in his column for Inside World Football that he feels it is "ludicrous and completely reprehensible" to suggest he is behind the investigation.

Last Thursday, bin Hammam demanded that Blatter also be included in the probe, after claiming the FIFA president was also named in evidence handed to the ethics committee. FIFA confirmed on Friday that Blatter had a case to answer and would take questions at Sunday's ethics committee hearing.

In a statement, the sports association said bin Hammam claimed that Warner, a FIFA vice president, would have told Blatter in advance about alleged cash payments to delegations attending the Caribbean Football Union meeting, and that he "would have had no issue with these."

Again asserting his innocence, bin Hammam said Sunday he hoped his decision to pull out of the presidential race would not be tied to the probe.

"I will appear before the ethics committee to clear my name from the baseless allegations that have been made against me," he wrote, while also singling out Warner for thanks. "I promise those who stood by me that I will walk with my head high, and will continue to fight for the good of the game."

The Qatari man vowed to also fight "to restore FIFA's reputation to what it should be -- a protector of the game that has credibility through honesty, transparency and accountability." And he said he believed his presidential run helped further that cause.

"I believe my candidacy has been a catalyst for debate within FIFA and has brought change to the top of the agenda," bin Hammam said.

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