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AP
DAKAR, Senegal (AP) — Senegal's highest court rejected the appeals of opposition leaders who say it is unconstitutional for President Abdoulaye Wade to run in next month's election.

Wade was first elected in 2000. He is attempting to run for a third term even though the constitution was changed in 2001 to impose a two-term maximum. The court said in a statement that the term limits do not affect Wade because he took office before the new law went into effect.

The court also rejected the appeal of music icon Youssou Ndour. The pop singer's candidacy was invalidated because he allegedly did not turn in enough valid signatures on his petition.

THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. Check back soon for further information. AP's earlier story is below.

DAKAR, Senegal (AP) — The leaders of Senegal's opposition led a long cortege of cars to the capital's central police commissariat to protest the detention of a human rights activist.

Alioune Tine, the organizer of the anti-government protest Friday which turned violent after the country's top legal body validated President Abdoulaye Wade's bid for a third term, was detained Saturday.

The constitution was revised after the 85-year-old Wade took office in 2000 to limit the number of terms to two. Wade argues the law is not retroactive and so cannot be applied to him since he took office before it took effect.

Late on Sunday, the constitutional council was meeting to consider the appeals submitted by opposition leaders who are calling into question the legality of Wade's candidacy. They are also considering an appeal submitted by music icon Youssou Ndour, whose application was disqualified because he allegedly did not turn in enough legal signatures on his petition to run for president.

The procession of cars descended along the capital's coastal highway, and surrounded the police station, located in a narrow side street in the downtown Plateau district near the presidential palace. On Saturday, the 52-year-old Ndour had tried to enter the building where Tine was being held, and a scuffle ensued when the police refused to let him in.

"We need to go get Alioune Tine," said El Hadj Diouf, an opposition leader who is a member of parliament. "If we don't react, those in power will prevent us from being at the forefront of our revolutionary battle."