DAKAR, Dec 2 – Senegalese police have taken into custody a doctor who said President Abdoulaye Wade, 84, is incapable of running the country due to several illnesses and should not seek re-election in 2012.
Opthalmologist Mary Faye was questioned Wednesday after telling media Wade was suffering several illnesses, some involving his mental capacity, which she did not identify.
Mame "was placed into custody after the hearing" by the police Criminal Investigation Division (CID, police), a security source told AFP.
"We are waiting for the investigation to be completed and the prosecution will make an assessment," the source added.
The doctor was reported as saying that Wade was "incapable of running Senegal" and should not seek a controversial third five-year mandate in 2012. She did not provide any evidence.
"I declare that in 2010, as a result of illness, President Abdoulaye Wade is already unable to continue to assure the proper office of the president of the Republic of Senegal," she was reported as saying.
And in 2012, he will be "medically completely unable to assume the office of president," she said, appealing to the Constitutional Court which will decide on his candidature.
The Senegalese presidency has described Faye\’s arguments as "ridiculous and shameful."
The recurring debate over Wade\’s health adds to that of the legality of his third term presidential bid.
He was elected in 2000 for seven years and was re-elected in 2007 for five years after a constitutional change limited presidential mandates in the west African nation — a long-time stable democracy in a troubled region.
In 2009 he announced he would seek re-election and the ruling Senegalese Democratic Party (PDS) maintains the constitutional change means Wade has served only one term.
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