Police fired tear gas at stone-throwing protesters rampaging through the Senegalese capital Dakar today, burning cars and looting government offices.
Demonstrators played a cat-and-mouse game with riot police as they set fire to car tyres and rubbish, blocking main streets across much of the West African city and forcing many businesses to close.
Several people were hurt and dozens arrested, witnesses said.
The worst riots to hit Senegal in many years erupted after President Abdoulaye Wade's government ordered police last week to remove street vendors in Dakar, where thousands earn a living selling goods.
After hours of disturbances, Dakar Governor Amadou Sy announced the creation of four new markets to relocate the traders, in a bid to defuse popular anger.
"People are fed up. These are youths who sell things in the street who voted the president in and now he wants to chase them away," said Ouzin Diop (28) watching from behind the iron railings of the supermarket where he works.
Senegal has long been regarded as a bastion of stability in a volatile region, but social tensions have risen due to spiralling living costs and high unemployment.
Since comfortably winning re-election in February, Mr Wade has been criticised for his ambitious infrastructure programme ahead of an Islamic conference next year in Dakar.