At a court in Kaduna in northern Nigeria, the Shia leader, Ibraheem Zakzaky, has denied all charges against him including inciting violence.

He was denied bail and is due back in court in January.

The leader of the Islamic Movement of Nigeria was arrested in 2015 after members of the sect blocked a military convoy - an incident that led to soldiers opening fire and killing around 300 Shia Muslims.

Last month hundreds of Shia protesters took to the streets of the capital, Abuja, calling for Ibraheem Zakzaky to be released.

The security forces say clashes broke out after protesters tried to overrun a checkpointImage caption: The security forces say clashes broke out after protesters tried to overrun a checkpoint

The demonstrations turned violent and human rights group accuse the army of killing around fifty protesters. Police then arrested 400 Shia Muslims.