For many years, Senegal resisted putting Mr Habre on trial but it has changed its position under new President Macky Sall.

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It followed the defeat of Abdoulaye Wade in the March 2012 presidential election by Macky Sall, who pledged to fight corruption.

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President Macky Sall meanwhile visited the scene of the fire along with senior government officials on Monday and promised to tackle the long-standing issue of Koranic schools.

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