Editor,

May I express my heartfelt sympathy for the friends and family of The Gambia's jailed journalists. Of the six, Pap Saine and Sam Sarr are well known to me and I have known them to be only kind, generous and extremely professional individuals.

In spite of differences of opinion when I was heading the Daily Observer, they were always friendly and very professional. Sam Sarr even came to visit me when I was jailed for 14 days last year - and congratulated me when charges against me were dropped at about this time. It is, therefore, very very sad indeed for Gambians of such integrity, high calibre and usefulness to their country to be starting two-year jail sentences with hard labour today.

I share the sadness and sorrow of many Gambians today. I hope and pray that the Court of Appeal will overturn these draconian sentences and free these gentlemen and the one lady.