Spy claim woman 'faces long wait'

http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/england/cumbria/6430139.stm

Version 0 of 1.

A human rights worker being held in Angola on suspicion of espionage may have to endure a long wait before she can return to the UK, say her family.

Sarah Wykes from Cumbria was working for charity Global Witness when she was held in the oil-rich Cabinda province.

She was jailed on 18 February, but later released on bail and allowed to fly to the capital Luanda, where she must report to police every two days.

An appeal to allow her to return home has gone to the Angolan government.

Ms Wykes' sister, Caroline Kennedy, said: "The best outcome would be for her to come back to the UK and for the case to be fought from here.

She said it's very important psychologically to know that people are thinking of he Caroline Kennedy, Ms Wykes' sister

"But it may not be quick. We just don't know.

"However, she is physically well and wants to thank all the people in Cumbria who have helped raise her raised her case.

"She said it's very important psychologically to know that people are thinking of her."

An announcement on Ms Wykes' case is expected on Wednesday, her sister added.

'Baseless case'

The anti-corruption campaigner had flown into Angola on 11 February and arrived in Cabinda with a colleague a few days later.

Shortly afterwards she was arrested and accused of espionage.

Global Witness has condemned the actions of the Angolan authorities, and described the case against her as "baseless".

Oil accounts for 95% of Angola's export revenue, but most of the country lives in extreme poverty.

The government has been criticised by local and foreign groups who are pushing for greater scrutiny of oil accounts and a fairer redistribution of oil revenues.