Gambia President sacks judges

BANJUL;

 Gambia's hardline President Yahya Jammeh
dismissed two judges in the Supreme Court
after criticising the court's move to commute
several death sentence to life sentences in
prison,a leading lawyer told AFP on Sunday,

The lawyer, who spoke on condition of
anonymity said Raymond Sock and Gibou
Janneh were sacked on Thursday without
any explanation from the government,

The sacking followed the dismissal of
Gambia's former chief justice ,the Pakistani
Ali Nawaz Chowhan,ni May he was ordered
to leave Gambia within 72 hours following
his dismissal,No reason was given by the
authorities for his sacking.

The lawyer said ,it was widely assumed that
it would be only  a matter of time"before
Justice Sock and Janneh were removed
from the office,.

But he said  their dismissal was "unlawful
and unconstitutional,and is not in line with
standard practice,

"There were laid down procedures for the
removal of judges from the office and this
is clearly spelt out in the Gambian constitution.
The presidency should not depart from this
practice "Shortly after a failed coup attempt
in January,Jammeh vowed to teach the
attackers a lesson,
AFP