Everything's fine

So, as I suspected, nothing particularly newsworthy came out of yesterday's protests.  I got a full report from Paula (cat friend downtown) and Moutarou (my Wolof teacher / roommate).  Here's a summary of what I've gleaned from the two of them plus news reports:

Friday night on the TV news, it was reported that the President would welcome the protests as a sign of a flourishing democracy, and he was not going to intervene except to ensure people's physical safety (in the form of installing a police presence plus ambulences around the square).

Saturday at 10am people started gathering at Place de l'Independence downtown.

By noon there were maybe 2000 people (Paula's estimate).  Everything seemed in control - there were maybe 100 or so police in full riot gear, but nothing was getting out of hand.

The next time Paula checked in, she noticed the last of the protesters running away from the square and signs of smoke.  The police were chasing after all of the protesters, but nobody got hurt.

Then the square was calm again.

Then later, an assembly of counterprotesting women, whose transportation from the suburbs to downtown had been paid for by President Wade, rooted for the President.  He made an appearance and gave a short speech, and that was that. 

SO - as anticipated, nothing really came of the whole affair.