Gambia frees two Amnesty 'spies'

President Jammeh is accused of a media crackdown

Two Amnesty International (AI) workers and a Gambian arrested on suspicion of spying, have been freed on bail.

But AI has called for their immediate and unconditional release, saying the authorities knew about their work.

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.

No charges have been brought against any of the three.

Arbitrary arrests

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 2004 Lamin Fatty: detained 63 days, 2006 Malick Mboob: detained 139 days, 2006 Chief Ebrima Manney: goes missing, July 2006 Fatou Jaw Manneh: on trial for sedition, 2007 Momodou Lamin Jaiteh: goes into hiding after death threats, July 2007 Fears for missing reporter

"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.

"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.