SENEGAL: Rare death sentence revives debate on capital punishment

The long-running debate over capital punishment in Senegal was revived this week when a local court sentenced to death an armed robber who slit the throat of a young soldier 10 years ago. Senegal has enjoyed uninterrupted civilian rule and a strong tradition of tolerance and democracy since independence from France in 1960. No-one has been executed in the West African state since 1967.