Dakar - Fresh clashes erupted in Senegal Wednesday as the opposition mulled a new strategy to force octogenarian leader Abdoulaye Wade to scrap his controversial ambitions for a third term in office.

Pressure mounted on Wade with former colonial ruler France demanding a "generational change" and UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon expressing concern as police on Wednesday used tear gas and rubber bullets on student protestors.

The June 23 Movement (M23) opposition movement on Tuesday night gathered some 10,000 protesters, according to witnesses, to rally against the 85-year-old leader's bid to seek a third term in the February 26 polls.

The rally degenerated into riots as police tried to disperse the crowd with tear gas, and a 32-year-old student was killed when a police car ploughed into a group of protesters, witnesses said. Police deny it was their vehicle.

The student's death was the fourth casualty in a week.

At the University of Dakar, students angry over the death clashed Wednesday with police who fired tear gas and rubber bullets after being pelted with stones, an AFP journalist reported.

Senegal's top court on Monday dismissed all final appeals against Wade's candidacy, leaving no recourse for the opposition but street pressure.