A Senegalese court has handed down a two-month suspended prison sentence to opposition politician Ousmane Sonko for defaming a minister.
Sonko, had to answer for defamation, insults and forgery against the Minister of Tourism Mame Mbaye Niang.
In addition to the two-month suspended prison sentence, the court fined Sonko, who was absent from the hearing, 200 million CFA francs to be paid to the minister.
Opposition call for protests appeared to have little effect as hundreds of people have been arrested in recent weeks.