Dakar - Senegal's 85-year-old leader Abdoulaye Wade, whose attempts to run for a third term in office has set the nation on edge, said on Thursday, January 26, 2012 he could legally seek another two terms if he wished to do so.

In an interview published on news website Dakaractu Wade dismissed a constitutional row over his bid to run in February 26

polls, saying he was fit and healthy and needed more time to turn Senegal into an emerging nation.

“I was elected in 2000 under the 1963 constitution. After my election we adopted a new constitution. Everybody knows the law is not retroactive,” Wade said in the interview ahead of a Constitutional Council ruling on the legality of his bid.

“I wrote the constitution. Alone. Nobody knows it better than me.”

Wade was first elected in 2000 for a seven-year mandate, and re-elected in 2007 under a new constitution for a five-year mandate.

In 2008 Article 27 was again changed to say a president can be elected for a seven-year mandate, renewable once.

“My first mandate under the new text would begin in 2012. I can even legally stand again in 2019,” he said, at which time he would be 92 years old.

His opponents and civil society argue this is illegal and the constitutional row has led to clashes and fears of further violence ahead of the crucial decision on Friday.

Wade dismissed fears of further violence, saying the opposition was “a broken record” which made empty threats.

“They won't do anything at all,” he said.

On criticism that he should not be seeking a third term, especially at his age, he said: “I still feel physically and intellectually able to serve my people. I cannot stop in midstream ... I need three years to complete some major projects that will turn Senegal into an emerging country.” - Sapa-AFP