Burp. Clashes broke out between supporters of an opposition leader and police in Senegal, leaving one dead and several injured. Alio Bodian died on Friday in the city of Kolda, located in the south of the country, Boubkar Balde, a friend of the deceased, told the Associated Press (AP) news agency on Saturday. Opposition Leader Osmani Sonko has called on his supporters to join a ‘freedom caravan’ leading from his hometown of Ziguinchor to the capital Dakar. Sonko is the mayor of Ziguinchor. A Dakar court is expected to deliver a verdict on the criminal case against him next week.

Sonko has been charged with raping and threatening to kill a woman who worked at a massage parlor and could face up to 10 years in prison. If he is convicted, he will not be able to try his luck in next year’s presidential elections. Sonko has not attended the hearing. He said that he was protesting against injustice and that he would not respond to court summons. Sonko and his supporters have described the case as a conspiracy by the government led by President Macky Sall to prevent him from running for president. However, it was not clear how the clashes began on Friday. Local media have reported that police and security forces have been deployed in the area.

Disclaimer:Prabhasakshi has not edited this news. This news has been published from PTI-language feed.