Culled from BBC's webpage Gambian police are still detaining the country's main opposition leader, Ousainou Darboe, following clashes last weekend between opposition supporters and members of the ruling party. We do not want the culture of violence to be introduced into the politics of this country Opposition leader Ousainou Darboe Police in the Gambian town of Basse (about 400 km east of the capital, Banjul) have been holding Mr Darboe and his supporters since Sunday. The police said a supporter of the ruling Alliance for Patriotic Reorientation and Construction, APRC, party was killed during the clash on Saturday and several others were injured. Since the re-introduction of multi-party democracy in the Gambia in 1996 (after four years of military rule) the country has seen a sustained campaign of violence and intimidation, aimed specially at the opposition parties. Elections are expected to be held in November. A police official said they were investigating the incident and the circumstances surrounding the death. Mr Darboe, who leads the United Democratic Party, UDP, said he and his supporters had been attacked by government supporters in the Jimira district when they stopped to dismantle a roadblock. He said his attackers were driving a government vehicle. 'Protective custody' Initially the police said they had taken Mr Darboe and his supporters into the Basse police station for their own protection but his supporters now say that he is being held against his will. The deputy leader of the UDP, Yaya Jallow, said that the detainees were not allowed to take a bath or change their clothes, three days into their detention. He said the UDP leader was not allowed to make or receive calls. Mr Jallow also said that they had been served with a cautionary statement on the suspected murder of the ruling party activist. Violence and intimidation The UDP leader had previously said his party did not want the culture of violence to enter Gambian politics. "For 30 years the Gambia has been known for its peaceful character," he said. But he added that the UDP would defend itself if necessary. Mori ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- To unsubscribe/subscribe or view archives of postings, go to the Gambia-L Web interface at: http://maelstrom.stjohns.edu/archives/gambia-l.html ----------------------------------------------------------------------------