afrol News, 20 March - At a meeting with church leaders in northern Benin at the weekend, President Thomas Boni Yayi said his failed assassination attempt was carried out by enemies of his policy to flush out official graft policy.

The convoy of the Beninese President was shot at while on a legislative elections campaign tour in the northern part of the capital Cotonou last Thursday. Unknown gunmen released shots on a vehicle they thought was carrying the Beninese President.

No one got injured in the attack.

The attack has stimulated the country's defence ministry to embark on a large-scale investigation. So far six suspects have been arrested.

The Beninese President was confident that some people wanted to assassinate him purposely to dampen his battle against corruption. But he said since corruption is milking away the economy of Benin, he will neither retreat nor surrender in the fight to chase entrenched corruption.

His party is expected to do well in the Sunday polls.

Mr Yayi, a newcomer in politics, last year took over power from President Mathieu Kérékou who had ruled Benin for 33 years. Mr Kérékou's high age and constitutional two-term limit excluded him from the last year's race.

The new Beninese President is a former banker whose electoral campaign promises centred on how to crack down on official corruption as well as better the lives of inhabitants of the West African country, which suffers from a high level of unemployment and poverty.

By staff writer

© afrol News

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