Updated: 2012-01-31 13:45

(Xinhua)

BEIJING- China's Ministry of Commerce said Tuesday that companies and individuals had better delay their business visits to Senegal as political conflicts escalated in the African country.

Protests spread from Dakar, capital of Senegal, to interior cities after the country's constitutional court last Friday validated President Abdoulaye Wade's candidacy in next month's election, the ministry said in a statement on its website.

Protests lasted until Saturday morning, with one policeman killed and several people injured.

Five Chinese shops and warehouses caught fire during the protests, according to the statement.

Given Senegal's current security situation, the ministry advised Chinese companies and individuals to postpone visits to Senegal, the statement said.