GAMBIA ARRESTS AMNESTY STAFF FOR SPYING

Gambia has arrested two Amnesty International workers and a local journalist on suspicion of spying.

Amnesty researchers Tania Bernath and Ayodele Ameen, and Yahya Dampha of the opposition Foroyaa newspaper, were detained in the town of Basse.

A spokesman for Amnesty said the team was on a research mission and that the authorities had been informed.

President Yahya Jammeh's administration has been criticised for detaining opposition activists and journalists.

"We were detained on suspicion of spying," Yayha Dampha said after the three were brought back to Banjul.

All three deny the charges.

Amnesty International has noted an overall deterioration of the human rights situation in Gambia.

President Yahya 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 Gambia.

Eleven journalists were jailed for extended periods in 2006.