Photos: Riots in Senegal Force Government to Scrap Change to Constitution

Senegal to abandon change to constitution.

Proposed Changes Scrapped - Senegal's President Abdoulaye Wade agreed Thursday to cancel a proposed change to the constitution which would have paved the way for his son to take power, amid massive street protests that marked the biggest challenge to his 11-year rule and threatened to derail a country known as one of the most stable in the region. (Photo: AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell) 

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Proposed Changes Scrapped - Senegal's President Abdoulaye Wade agreed Thursday to cancel a proposed change to the constitution which would have paved the way for his son to take power, amid massive street protests that marked the biggest challenge to his 11-year rule and threatened to derail a country known as one of the most stable in the region. (Photo: AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell) 

Presidential Protests - Lawmakers had gathered Thursday to deliberate proposals that included creating the post of vice president and lowering the percentage of votes required for a candidate to win office.It is believed that Wade, 85, would choose his eldest child, Karim Wade, as his vice presidential running mate. Having a vice president would allow for automatic succession in the event of the president's death.(Photo: AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell) 

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Presidential Protests - Lawmakers had gathered Thursday to deliberate proposals that included creating the post of vice president and lowering the percentage of votes required for a candidate to win office.It is believed that Wade, 85, would choose his eldest child, Karim Wade, as his vice presidential running mate. Having a vice president would allow for automatic succession in the event of the president's death.(Photo: AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell) 

Fire\r - Passage of the amendment by the 150-member National Assembly seems assured because the president’s party controls 131 seats. If passed in the assembly, the senate, where the ruling party also has the majority, would vote on the proposal.\r(Photo: AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell)

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Fire\r - Passage of the amendment by the 150-member National Assembly seems assured because the president’s party controls 131 seats. If passed in the assembly, the senate, where the ruling party also has the majority, would vote on the proposal.\r(Photo: AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell)

Wade Go! - People in the square carried signs saying "Hands off my constitution" and "Wade Go!" (Photo: AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell)

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Wade Go! - People in the square carried signs saying "Hands off my constitution" and "Wade Go!" (Photo: AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell)

Photo By Photo: AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell

Retreat - Thousands of demonstrators lobbed rocks at police who forced them back with tear gas, rubber bullets and fire hoses.(Photo: AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell)

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Retreat - Thousands of demonstrators lobbed rocks at police who forced them back with tear gas, rubber bullets and fire hoses.(Photo: AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell)

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Reinforcements Are Rallied - A policeman in a water cannon shouts for reinforcements as riot police drive back demonstrators.(Photo: AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell)

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Reinforcements Are Rallied - A policeman in a water cannon shouts for reinforcements as riot police drive back demonstrators.(Photo: AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell)

Photo By Photo: AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell

Police Brutality - A police officer strikes an unarmed woman with his walkie-talkie.(Photo: AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell)

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Police Brutality - A police officer strikes an unarmed woman with his walkie-talkie.(Photo: AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell)

Photo By Photo: AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell

Standing Firm - Riot police huddle together after firing tear gas, as a lone man continues to hold up a sign protesting proposed constitutional changes. (Photo: AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell)

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Standing Firm - Riot police huddle together after firing tear gas, as a lone man continues to hold up a sign protesting proposed constitutional changes. (Photo: AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell)

A Stone's Throw - Police throw rocks back at protestors.(Photo: AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell)

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A Stone's Throw - Police throw rocks back at protestors.(Photo: AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell)

Photo By Photo: AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell

Seeking Safety - Protestors run to escape the tear gas. (Photo: AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell)

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Seeking Safety - Protestors run to escape the tear gas. (Photo: AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell)

Photo By Photo: AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell

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Injuries - An injured man is carried past the National Assembly building.  (Photo: AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell)

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Injuries - An injured man is carried past the National Assembly building.  (Photo: AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell)

Photo By Photo: AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell

Tear Gas Attack - Police huddle together in a cloud of tear gas as they push back thousands of protestors.(Photo: AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell)

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Tear Gas Attack - Police huddle together in a cloud of tear gas as they push back thousands of protestors.(Photo: AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell)

Photo By Photo: AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell

The Aftermath - Police were able to take control of a street after firing tear gas on thousands of protestors.(Photo: AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell)

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The Aftermath - Police were able to take control of a street after firing tear gas on thousands of protestors.(Photo: AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell)

Photo By Photo: AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell