Dakar - Campaigning began on Sunday for Senegal's upcoming legislative election in a vote expected to be anticlimactic because main opposition groups have pledged to boycott.
About 15 parties have announced plans to boycott the election over President Abdoulaye Wade's refusal to change the electoral process.
Opposition leaders have called for the voter list to be revised and the creation of an independent structure to replace the government-appointed electoral commission.
There is also a risk that the June 3 election will be postponed since the Socialist Party, part of the opposition, has filed a complaint with the State Council that could lead to their delay.
More than 4 000 candidates will vie for 150 seats, said Macoumba Koume, an official with the electoral commission.
On Sunday evening, messages from candidates from 14 parties and coalitions competing in the election were to be broadcast.
Among those who have said they would take part in the boycott are Idrissa Seck, Ousmane Tanor Dieng and Moustapha Niasse, who came second, third and fourth respectively in February's presidential elections, which Wade won with 55.9 percent of the vote. - Sapa-AFP