Image copyright AFP Image caption Khalifa Sall was elected to parliament last year even though he was in detention

One of Senegal's most popular politicians has been jailed on charges of fraud which his supporters say are politically motivated. His conviction bars him from next year's elections, when he had been expected to present a strong challenge to President Macky Sall - no relation. 'More popular in prison'

The court heard that he had used fake receipts for rice and millet, and diverted the money for "political purposes", reports the AFP news agency.
Senegalese Judge Malick LaMotte sentences Khalifa Sall [fr], mayor of Dakar, Senegal, to a five-year term for fraud.