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Gambia: journalists freed

8 Sep 2009

Six Gambian journalists who had been convicted of defamation and sedition were pardoned and released last week. They had been sentenced to two years in prison in August 2009 after calling on President Yahya Jammeh to recognise his government's responsibility for the unresolved murder in 2004 of journalist Deyda Hydara, an outspoken critic of Gambian media laws.

President Jammeh denies that his government is responsible. Human rights groups have repeatedly criticised Gambia because of numerous reports of missing journalists and illegal arrests. President Jammeh has been in power since a coup in 1994 and has since won three elections.

Source: Panos London