Sall expects presidential run-off in Senegal

Senegalese opposition leader Macky Sall poses during an interview with REUTERS TV in his house in central Dakar February 27, 2012. [Photo/Agencies]

DAKAR - Macky Sall, ex-prime minister and one of the main competitors in Senegal's presidential election, on Monday expected a second round of the vote.

A presidential run-off "is inevitable," he said after partial results showed a neck-to-neck race between him and outgoing President Abdoulaye Wade.

Sall obtained 33 percent of the votes counted, slightly behind 34 percent secured by Wade, his team said.

"The figures in our possession show that a second round is inevitable. We have won in most Senegalese departments," Sall declared on Monday morning, as the candidate for the "Macky 2012" coalition at his campaign headquarters.

He said he had won in the departments such as Dakar, Rufisque, Pikine, Guediawaye, Tambacounda, Matam, Louga, Foundiougne, Boukounling and in the diaspora.

"In these conditions, how will the outgoing president win in the first round," Sall posed, while at the same time warning those who are "publishing wrong figures."

He appealed for strict respect of the popular will. "I want to appeal for respect of the popular will and whoever will try to violate this popular will, will bear full responsibility for people's anger," he said.

Sall said it was impossible "to speak of victory in the first round" at the moment.

More than 5 million eligible voters out of the West African country's 13 million population were registered for Sunday's election, which was characterized by a massive turnout and calm despite fears of violence.