Gambia News : Gambia's ex-Chief of Defence Staff, others arrested

Nov 26,2009 00:00 by lamin

Gambia's former Chief of Defence Staff, Lt.-Gen. Lang Tombong Tamba, and four others have been detained after they were invited for questioning at the National Intelligence Agency (NIA) head office in the capital, Banjul, Tuesday, sources told PANA here Wednesday.

Also being detained at the Central Prisons at Mile 2 are the former Director General, National Intelligence Agency, Modou Lamin Badjie; Lt.-Col. Kawsu Camara, as well as businessmen Lie Joof and Kebba Touray.

The sources said the Inspector General of Police, Enssa Badjie, was also questioned by the NIA, but was allowed to go.

According to sources, the men are being detained in connection with publication of a letter allegedly written by Kukoie Samba Sanyany, a Gambian dissident who led the 1981 coup d'état against President Dawda Jawara, to President Abdoulaye Wade of Senegal, seeking support against President Yahya Jammeh.

Meanwhile, a government statement monitored on Gambia Radio and Television Services said President Yahya Jammeh has demoted Lt.-Col Camara to the rank of private and dismissed him from the Gambia Armed Forces.

The statement said President Jammeh had also dismissed Modou Gaye from his post as the Deputy Inspector General of Police.