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Gambia News : Gambia releases 2 Spanish men detained for allegedly propositioning taxi drivers

The men were released late Tuesday and left the West African country, said Nicola El Busto, an official with Spain's embassy in Gambia.

El Busto declined to give further details, and Gambian authorities could not immediately be reached for comment.

The Spanish nationals were arrested Friday after taxi drivers reported being solicited by them. Homosexual sex is illegal in Gambia, where those convicted of consensual homosexual acts face prison terms of up to 14 years.

Last month Gambia's president made a fiery speech ordering homosexuals to leave the country and threatening to "cut off the head" of anyone discovered to be gay. President Yahya Jammeh also threatened to close down hotels that rent rooms to gays.

Controversy over homosexuality has been growing across Africa in recent years, with many countries toughening laws against homosexuality even as South Africa legalized gay marriage.

Jammeh's statements were condemned by international gay rights activists but welcomed by Gambia's Supreme Islamic Council, which said Jammeh had taken a "principled stand."