Rapper Sigel released from jail

Beanie Sigel has released three albums

US rapper Beanie Sigel has been released from prison in New Jersey in the US less than a year after being jailed for illegal possession of a gun. Sigel - whose real name is Dwight Grant - was jailed for a year in October 2004 after pleading guilty to the charge.

He still faces retrial on a separate attempted murder charge, stemming from an incident in Philadelphia in 2003.

His three albums made the top five on the US album chart and many songs depict guns, drugs and violence.

In a separate case, G-Unit rappers Lloyd Banks and Young Buck have been arrested and released without bail.

Banks, whose real name is Chris Lloyde, and Young Buck, whose real name is David Brown, were in a van with 10 other men which allegedly went through a red light on Monday after a concert in New York.

Police said one of the 12 men was carrying a loaded handgun and another weapon was found on the floor of the van. All the occupants were charged with gun possession.