The government of Equatorial Guinea has denied expelling eight Spanish journalists covering the trial of more than one-hundred people accused of separatist violence.

The Minister for Foreign Affairs, Miguel Oyono, said the eight had left for Madrid on the last available flight before the expiry of their visas.

However, he complained that they had taken the side of the accused in their coverage of the trial.

Verdicts are still awaited, with some defendants facing possible death sentences.

Some of the journalists said the authorities in the West African state -- a former Spanish colony -- had objected to reports that some defendants showed signs of torture.