DAKAR, Feb. 3 (Xinhua) -- Senegalese President Macky Sall on Saturday announced the postponement of the presidential election originally scheduled for Feb. 25.

The announcement was made in a message broadcast to the nation just a few hours before the start of the electoral campaign midnight Sunday.

The National Assembly adopted a bill on Saturday to request the six-month postponement of the Feb. 25 presidential election.

Twenty candidates were cleared by the Constitutional Council to compete in the polls. President Macky Sall has decided not to run for a third term.