The High Court has asked counsel for the 33 opposition UDP supporters arrested by police in the wake of the presidential election, to find out within 48 hours if they had been released from custody as stated by the Director of Public Prosecution.

In a 2 November 2001 letter to President Yahya A.J.J. Jammeh, The International Press Institute condemned the recent arrest of Baboucar Gaye and the closure of his radio station, Citizen FM.

Less than a week after presidential elections in The Gambia there are reports of arrests of members of the opposition and human rights activists, and attacks on the homes of some senior members of the main opposition party.

In a letter sent to the President of Gambia, Amnesty
International is calling on him to immediately and unconditionally release Mohamed Lamin Sillah, Secretary General
of Amnesty International's Gambian section, who was arrested on 22 October 2001.

Contrary to widespread fears of violence and chaos, Gambia's crucial presidential poll proceeded and ended peacefully on Thursday. Reliable sources on the ground told allAfrica.com that the voter turn-out was surprisingly good, there were no major incidents and polling stations across the country closed at 1600hrs GMT.