Senegal opposition cries coup as presidential election delayed 10 months and violent protests grip Dakar

Johannesburg — Senegal's parliament voted Monday to delay crucial national elections until Dec. 15 after chaotic scenes in the chamber that included opposition members being dragged out by police in riot gear. Opposition leaders denounced the proceedings as "a constitutional coup" as a motion was debated and then voted on that will, having passed, keep President Macky Sall in office for almost another year.

Sall first announced in a nationally televised address on Saturday that he was delaying the election until December, arguing it was necessary due to corruption allegations made against the country's constitutional council. He said the dispute needed to be resolved before the vote could proceed.

Fiery protests broke out immediately in front of the National Assembly, as people took to the streets and police resorted to tear gas to try to restore order in the normally peaceful west African nation.