Death sentences imposed on soldiers accused of participating in December’s attempted coup d’état in Gambia are a cruel violation of the right to life and the right to a fair trial, Amnesty International said today.

A military court which was held in secret with no media and independent observers present, handed down death sentences to three soldiers and sentences of life imprisonment to three others on Monday.

Reports from the country indicate that the soldiers may have been convicted of treason, conspiracy, mutiny and assisting the enemy.

bbabo.Net