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Gambia frees two Amnesty 'spies' Gambia frees two Amnesty 'spies'
(about 3 hours later)
Two Amnesty International workers and a Gambian arrested on suspicion of spying, have been freed on bail. Two Amnesty International (AI) workers and a Gambian arrested on suspicion of spying, have been freed on bail.
Amnesty researchers Tania Bernath and Ayodele Ameen, and Yahya Dampha of the opposition Foroyaa newspaper, were detained in the town of Basse. But AI has called for their immediate and unconditional release, saying the authorities knew about their work.
A spokesman for Amnesty said the team was on a research mission and that the authorities had been informed. AI researchers Tania Bernath and Ayodele Ameen, and Yahya Dampha of the opposition Foroyaa newspaper, were detained over the weekend.
President Yahya Jammeh's administration has been criticised for detaining opposition activists and journalists.President Yahya Jammeh's administration has been criticised for detaining opposition activists and journalists.
They were arrested in the town of Fatoto, some 250kms (155m) from Banjul, where they had gone to meet Ousman Jatta, a key member of the Gambian opposition who has been in detention for 13 months, said Dampha. No charges have been brought against any of the three.
"We were detained on suspicion of spying," Yayha Dampha said after the three were brought back to Banjul; they all deny the charges.
The three were released on Monday evening but have not been given back their passports and have been told to report back to the police on Tuesday, he said.
Arbitrary arrestsArbitrary arrests
Amnesty International has noted an overall deterioration of the human rights situation in Gambia. According to Mr Dampha, they were arrested in the town of Fatoto, some 250km (155 miles) from the capital, Banjul, where they had gone to meet Ousman Jatta, a key member of the Gambian opposition who has been in detention for 13 months.
JOURNALISTS UNDER PRESSURE Deyda Hydara: shot dead, Dec 2004Lamin Fatty: detained 63 days, 2006Malick Mboob: detained 139 days, 2006Chief Ebrima Manney: goes missing, July 2006Fatou Jaw Manneh: on trial for sedition, 2007Momodou Lamin Jaiteh: goes into hiding after death threats, July 2007 JOURNALISTS UNDER PRESSURE Deyda Hydara: shot dead, Dec 2004Lamin Fatty: detained 63 days, 2006Malick Mboob: detained 139 days, 2006Chief Ebrima Manney: goes missing, July 2006Fatou Jaw Manneh: on trial for sedition, 2007Momodou Lamin Jaiteh: goes into hiding after death threats, July 2007 class="" href="/1/hi/world/africa/6295288.stm">Fears for missing reporter
President Yahya Jammeh came to power through a coup 13 years ago but amid claims of plots to oust him, dozens of people have been arrested and unlawfully detained. "Our delegates were on a public and official visit to investigate the human rights situation in The Gambia and The Gambian authorities had been informed of their visit," said Erwin van der Borght, director of AI's Africa programme.
The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ)says arbitrary arrests and detention of journalists without trial have become routine in Gambia. "It is completely unacceptable for any government to attempt to impede the work of human rights workers," he said.
AI has noted an overall deterioration of the human rights situation in The Gambia.
President Jammeh came to power through a coup 13 years ago but amid claims of plots to oust him, dozens of people have been arrested and unlawfully detained.
The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) says arbitrary arrests and detention of journalists without trial have become routine in The Gambia.
Eleven journalists were jailed for extended periods in 2006.Eleven journalists were jailed for extended periods in 2006.