Gambia frees 'spying' politician

Halifa Sallah has been imprisoned many times before

Gambian opposition leader Halifa Sallah has been released from jail and all charges against him dropped.

Mr Sallah was arrested earlier this month and charged with spying, sedition and holding illegal meetings.

Shortly after his release, Mr Sallah told the BBC he had no idea why he had been detained because all the charges were false.

Mr Sallah, who leads the National Alliance for Democracy and Development, has been imprisoned many times before.

During elections three years ago he stood against Gambian President Yahya Jammeh, who has been in power since a coup in 1994.

A report by Amnesty International released in November said opponents of Mr Jammeh were subjected to daily rights violations, including torture and unlawful arrest.