The death toll amid protests in Senegal over the postponement of the presidential elections until December has climbed to three, as concerns grow that one of the remaining democracies in coup-hit West Africa is under threat.

The announcement of the delay just three weeks ahead of the planned February&nbsp;25 vote triggered violent clashes on Friday between protesters and police in Dakar and several other cities, in a wave of unrest that many fear will spill over into protracted instability.

WATCH |&nbsp;Senegal: Protests, stone pelting reported in Dakar for postponement of elections

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President Macky Sall has said the delay is necessary because electoral disputes threatened the credibility of the poll, but some opposition lawmakers have denounced the move as an "institutional coup."

As the public outcry mounts, the West African regional bloc ECOWAS and foreign powers have urged Sall to put the country back on a regular electoral footing.

The death of one young man amid reported protests in the southern city of Zinguinchor on Saturday evening took the number of those killed since Friday to three, according to Cartogra Free Senegal (CFS), a civil society platform tracking casualties.

"We tried to save him when he arrived at hospital and unfortunately he died in intensive care," Ndiame Diop, the manager of Ziguinchor hospital, told Reuters, saying it was not possible to determine the exact cause of death without an autopsy.

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/senegals-former-pm-aminata-toure-arrested-as-police-and-protesters-clash-over-indefinite-election-delay-686964">Senegal’s former PM Aminata Toure arrested as police and protesters clash over indefinite election delay</a>

A spokesperson for the interior ministry did not respond to a request for comment. The ministry has so far confirmed only one death, a student in the northern city of Saint-Louis on Friday. Reuters has not been able to independently confirm a reported second death: a 23-year-old merchant on the outskirts of Dakar, according to CFS.

The US&nbsp;Bureau of African Affairs said in an online post on Saturday that it was saddened to learn of the first two deaths.

"We urge all parties to act in a peaceful and measured manner, and we continue to call on President Sall to restore the electoral calendar, restore confidence, and bring calm to the situation," it said.

What happens next is not clear.

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/clashes-erupt-in-senegal-after-opposition-leader-ousmane-sonko-was-charged-and-detained-621165">Clashes erupt in Senegal after opposition leader Ousmane Sonko charged and detained</a>

Opposition lawmakers and presidential candidates who reject the postponement have filed legal challenges and said they will refuse to recognise Sall as president after his original mandate expires in early April.

The postponement bill backed by parliament included the extension of his tenure until his successor is installed after the election now reset for December 15.&nbsp;

"If President Macky Sall does not restore power to us on April 3, we will set up a parallel government of national unity," opposition lawmaker Guy Marius Sagna said on the radio on Sunday.

The death toll amid protests in Senegal over the postponement of the presidential elections until December has climbed to three, as concerns grow that one of the remaining democracies in coup-hit West Africa is under threat.

The death toll amid protests in Senegal over the postponement of the presidential elections until December has climbed to three, as concerns grow that one of the remaining democracies in coup-hit West Africa is under threat. The announcement of the delay just three weeks ahead of the planned February 25 vote triggered violent clashes on Friday between protesters and police in Dakar and several other cities, in a wave of unrest that many fear will spill over into protracted instability. WATCH | Senegal: Protests, stone pelting reported in Dakar for postponement of elections President Macky Sall has said the delay is necessary because electoral disputes threatened the credibility of the poll, but some opposition lawmakers have denounced the move as an "institutional coup." As the public outcry mounts, the West African regional bloc ECOWAS and foreign powers have urged Sall to put the country back on a regular electoral footing. The death of one young man amid reported protests in the southern city of Zinguinchor on Saturday evening took the number of those killed since Friday to three, according to Cartogra Free Senegal (CFS), a civil society platform tracking casualties. "We tried to save him when he arrived at hospital and unfortunately he died in intensive care," Ndiame Diop, the manager of Ziguinchor hospital, told Reuters, saying it was not possible to determine the exact cause of death without an autopsy. ALSO READ | Senegal’s former PM Aminata Toure arrested as police and protesters clash over indefinite election delay A spokesperson for the interior ministry did not respond to a request for comment. The ministry has so far confirmed only one death, a student in the northern city of Saint-Louis on Friday. Reuters has not been able to independently confirm a reported second death: a 23-year-old merchant on the outskirts of Dakar, according to CFS. The US Bureau of African Affairs said in an online post on Saturday that it was saddened to learn of the first two deaths. "We urge all parties to act in a peaceful and measured manner, and we continue to call on President Sall to restore the electoral calendar, restore confidence, and bring calm to the situation," it said. What happens next is not clear. ALSO READ | Clashes erupt in Senegal after opposition leader Ousmane Sonko charged and detained Opposition lawmakers and presidential candidates who reject the postponement have filed legal challenges and said they will refuse to recognise Sall as president after his original mandate expires in early April. The postponement bill backed by parliament included the extension of his tenure until his successor is installed after the election now reset for December 15. "If President Macky Sall does not restore power to us on April 3, we will set up a parallel government of national unity," opposition lawmaker Guy Marius Sagna said on the radio on Sunday.

Senegal unrest: Three dead amid protests over delayed presidential elections

The death toll due to violent protests in Senegal has climbed to 15 as tensions remain high in the West African nation, the news agency AFP reported early Monday (June 5).

The death toll due to violent protests in Senegal has climbed to 15 as tensions remain high in the West African nation, the news agency AFP reported early Monday (June 5). The clashes between protesters and security forces have been going on since a court convicted opposition leader Ousmane Sonko on Thursday, whose ongoing legal woes prompted rare flare-ups of violence. More than 350 protesters have been injured so far. On Thursday, Sonko was acquitted in a two-year-old rape case but was found guilty in absentia of corrupting a minor and sentenced to two years in prison. The sentence could prevent him from running in the February presidential election. Sonko's supporters said the prosecution was politically motivated and he denies any wrongdoing. The protesters have also been angered by President Macky Sall's refusal to rule out running for a third term as Senegal has a two-term presidential limit. On Sunday, Sonko's PASTEF-Patriots party condemned "the murderous repression by defence and security forces", accusing the government of deploying "private militias". The PASTEF-Patriots urged the citizens to defend themselves in any way and fight back. The government, meanwhile, accused Sonko's supporters of "vandalism and banditry". Mobile internet services restricted in certain areas On Sunday, the government cut access to mobile internet services in certain areas because of the deadly protests in which "hateful and subversive" messages have been posted online. In a statement, the government said "Because of the spread of hateful and subversive messages ... mobile Internet is temporarily suspended at certain hours of the day," the news agency Reuters reported. Though the government did not specify which areas were impacted at what time, residents across Senegal's capital Dakar said they were unable to access the Internet without a wifi connection on Sunday afternoon. Disturbances were reported in the suburbs of Dakar on Saturday. However, several neighbourhoods that experienced outbursts of violence on Thursday and Friday remained calm. Around 500 arrested so far: Interior minister Senegal's Interior Minister Antionie Diome said on Saturday that around 500 people had been arrested since violence broke out last Thursday. He suspected "foreign influence" was behind what he called an "attack" against Senegal, without elaborating. The minister also said there was a drop in intensity of the protests. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Senegal clashes: Death toll climbs to 15, opposition slams police brutality

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Senegal unrest: Three dead amid protests over delayed presidential elections

Senegal clashes: Death toll climbs to 15, opposition slams police brutality