Gambia holds two Amnesty 'spies'

President Jammeh is accused of a media crackdown

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.