Leaders, experts gather for Senegal Water Forum

World leaders and water experts gathered in Senegal's capital Dakar on Monday for the start of the world's biggest international water conference.

Addressing delegates at the opening ceremony of the ninth gathering of the World Water Forum, Senegal's president Macky Sall warned that rapid urbanization and industrialization were threatening supplies of safe drinking water for people around the world.

The forum is held every three years and aims to allow decision makers to "collaborate and make long-term progress on global water challenges".  The World Water Forum runs until March 26.