DAKAR, Oct 14 (AFP) - Senegal's President Abdoulaye Wade fired the head of
the navy Monday as a result of last month's ferry disaster in which around
1,000 people died, the president's office announced.
   Wade told national radio he had issued a decree dismissing Navy chief
Colonel Ousseynou Kombo following the results of the investigations into
the September 26 tragedy.
   A total of 1,034 people -- twice the vessel's capacity -- were
officially known to have been on board the Joola when it sank September 26
in stormy seas off the coast of Gambia, which lies between the northern and
southern halves of Senegal.
   Only 64 people survived, making the it the worst maritime accident in
Senegal's and all of Africa's history.
   Wade has already accepted the resignations of the two ministers most
closely associated with the catastrophe, Transport Minister Youssouph Sakho
and Armed Forces Minister Youba Sambou.
   The navy was in charge of managing the ship.
   Just after the disaster, the navy command had backed the theory that bad
weather caused the vessel to sink.
   However official investigations also blamed overcrowding and the crew's
failure to observe proper safety procedures.

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