Estimated read time: Less than a minute
This archived news story is available only for your personal, non-commercial use. Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information. Reading or replaying the story in its archived form does not constitute a republication of the story.
BANJUL, Gambia (AP) — A Gambian court has released on bail 12 people arrested during peaceful protests in May, a day after an appeals court released on bail top opposition leaders.
Lawyer Yassin Senghore said Tuesday that 12 opposition supporters who demonstrated in May were ordered to pay a fine and have a Gambian guarantor as bail. She said two others were earlier released on bail, and a trial for all 14 was still ongoing.
The court decisions come days after Yahya Jammeh, who ruled for 22 years, agreed to step aside after losing a presidential election.
Human rights groups say Jammeh's regime imprisoned and often killed political opponents.
Senghore said the decisions represent the "wind of change."
Eleven protesters arrested in April and convicted to three years have a bail hearing next week.
Copyright © The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
