Sall scoops Senegal win

ROUGH CUT - NO REPORTER NARRATION

The streets of Senegal's capital, Dakar, were filled on Sunday (March 25) with supporters of presidential contender Macky Sall as the incumbent, Abdoulaye Wade, conceded defeat in the country's run-off election.

Early results showed Wade, who has been in power since 2000, trailing his former ally and ex-prime minister by a wide margin.

Wade failed to win an outright majority he needed to avoid a run-off in the first round of voting in February.

Sall's chances improved when the other first round candidates united behind him.

The United States and former colonial ruler France had urged 85-year-old Wade not to run.

His bid to extend his rule ahead of February's poll triggered deadly street riots in the normally peaceful nation.

The election is the latest test for democracy in a region plagued by bloodshed and flawed polls.

Senegal is the only country in mainland West Africa not to have experienced a coup since independence.