GAMBIA:Gambia yesterday released on bail two foreign workers from rights group Amnesty International, who were detained at the weekend on suspicion of spying when they attempted to visit a detained opposition politician.
Tania Bernath, who holds joint British and US citizenship, and Ayobele Ameen, a Nigerian, were released on payment of a 100,000 dalasi ($5,376) bond but authorities retained their passports.
Gambian journalist Yaya Dampha, who works for opposition newspaper Foroyaa and was accompanying them on their trip, was also freed on bail.
The three were detained on Saturday some 170 miles east of the capital Banjul. They had been hoping to visit Ousman Rambo Jatta, a member of the opposition United Democratic Party who was arrested during elections last year and has been in detention in the town of Fatoto ever since.
The two British-based employees of Amnesty International had travelled to the West African country to hold a human rights workshop for journalists and civil society groups.
The former British colony has a poor record on human rights.
President Yahya Jammeh has ruled the country of 1.5 million people since seizing power in a bloodless military coup in 1994.