afrol News, 28 January - The former Senegalese Prime Minister Macky Sall who is facing charges of taking part in an alleged money laundering scheme with an unnamed African head of state was held for questioning in Dakar yesterday, government statement said.

Mr Sall, now leader of the opposition Alliance for Republic has however denied the charges which his opposition party says are meant to silence political challengers ahead of the March municipal elections.

A press statement issued from the Minister of Interior said authorities intercepted mail exchanged with an unnamed African head of state indicating that the former prime minister was part of a scheme to launder money belonging to Gabon-based Senegalese businessman Abdoulaye Sall.

Mr Sall has said the charges against him and members of his party are unfounded.

The party spokesman Seydou Gueye said it is a political attempt to silence Mr Sall two months before local government elections, saying his party will not be intimidated by the government aggressive measures.

Mr Sall last November was forced to resign from parliament and the ruling Senegalese Democratic Party (PDS) after falling out with President Abdoulaye Wade.

The two men split after Mr Sall called the president's son Karim before a hearing investigating his oversight of spending on last year's Organization of the Islamic Conference summit in Dakar. Mr Karim Wade is currently standing as a candidate for mayor of the capital city in the March elections.

He then formed his own political party, in Fatick in the west-centre of the country, to contest municipal and local elections scheduled for 22 March. He also widely expected to stand for president at the next elections in 2012.

Mr Sall also previously served as Minister of Mines and Energy, and the Interior.

By staff writer

© afrol News

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