JOHANNESBURG — The West African nation of Gambia has executed nine convicted criminals and dozens more on death-row are under imminent threat, Amnesty International said Saturday quoting credible reports. Gambia's President Yaya Jammeh vowed earlier this month to execute all the country's inmates who had been sentenced to death as part of efforts to dissuade people from committing “heinous crimes" and to curb a rising crime rate. Eight men and one woman were removed from their prison cells Friday night and executed, according to the London-based human rights organization. Two of those executed are believed to be foreigners from Senegal. “More persons are under threat of imminent executions today and in the coming days," Amnesty said. Gambia's information minister could not be reached immediately to confirm the report. There was no answer from his mobile telephone. Amnesty said the executions are the first in Gambia since 1987. Gambia reinstated the death penalty in 1995 but had not executed anyone, former minister Omar Jallow has told The Associated Press. Amnesty said there were 47 inmates on death row before Friday's executions: government figures put the number at 42 men and two women and another three men reportedly also received the death sentence this year. Opposition leader Ousainou Darboe called Saturday for international sanctions against President Jammeh if reports that he has begun executing death row prisoners prove true. “It's time to the international community to take measures that will make Jammeh conform with accepted international standards," United Democratic Party chief Darboe said. “I want to appeal to the international community, that if Jammeh carries the executions, it should order a travel ban for him and all his ministers," Darboe said.— Agencies
