March, 2001, 21:22 GMT
Senegal prime minister sacked
The president of Senegal, Abdoulaye Wade, has dismissed the prime minister, Moustapha Niasse.
The Justice Minister, Mrs Mame Madior Boye, has been named as his replacement.
The move comes only eight weeks before parliamentary elections and follows increasing criticism of Mr Niasse by political rivals close to the president.
The alliance between the two men began last year when Mr Niasse a former Socialist Party member and his Alliance for Progressive Forces, FAL, backed Mr Wade who defeated Abdou Diouf for the presidency.
Despite Mr Niasse's departure, FAL has denied it is leaving the governing coalition.
But a BBC correspondent in Dakar says President Wade himself appears reluctant to keep FAL on board and Senegal faces a period of political manoeuvring and realignment.
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