Djibouti : Protesters demand the departure of the president

Djibouti : Djibouti | Feb 18, 2011 at 3:43 PM PST

By Medeshi

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Hundreds of the opposition and protesters demanding the departure of the president have gathered at the centre of this tiny country in the Horn of Africa.

Amid a tight police deployment, the demonstrators gathered at a stadium on Friday with the intention of staying there until their demands were met.

The demonstration later escalated into clashes after dusk, as authorities used batons and tear gas against stone-throwing protesters.

President Guelleh and his family have ruled the country since in independence in 1977 and the president has recently amended the constitution to have a third term election that is scheduled for April this year.

The opposition are demanding that Ismail Omer Guelleh steps down after the end of his presidential term in April.

The tiny nation of Djibouti is home to a French legionnaire and home to the American Africom base in the East Africa.

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Opposition leaders hope the Djibouti protests will have the same effect as uprisings in Egypt, pictured[AFP]

Medeshi is based in London, England, United Kingdom, and is a Stringer for Allvoices.

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