Source: ThinkSpain.com, Associated Press, DPA via EarthTimes
BANJUL, Gambia -- The two Spanish tourists arrested in Gambia last weekend and charged with making "homosexual propositions" were released from custody last night.

Their release followed a telephone conversation between Spanish Foreign Affairs minister Miguel Ángel Moratinos and a local diplomat yesterday evening, the website ThinkSpain.com reports, based on news items in Spanish media.

Immediately after their release, Spanish diplomats arranged for the two Catalan tourists, who have been identified as PJ (56) and JM (54), to be driven to Dakar, the capital of neighboring Senegal, where they were expected to arrive last night, the website ThinkSpain.com reports.

The Spaniards were detained in Gambia for allegedly propositioning taxi drivers for sex.

Since the news of the couple's arrests first broke yesterday a number of gay and lesbian organizations have urged Spain's president, Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero, to review diplomatic relations with Gambia, where Spain currently has no embassy.

The men were released late Tuesday and have left the West African country, Nicola El Busto, an official with Spain's embassy in Gambia, told Associated Press.

The two had faced up to 14 years in prison for "violating the principles of Islam", the gay organization FAGC said in Barcelona.

The Spaniards were held at a police station in the coastal resort of Kotu. They were arrested Friday after the taxi drivers reported them to police.

Gambian President Yahya Gammeh last month threatened to "cut off the head" of any homosexual caught in the West African country.

Gambian authorities could not be reached by Associated Press for comment.

Full article: Gambia releases Spaniards accused of soliciting sex | Associated Press
Spanish gays detained in Gambia are released | EarthTimes (dpa)
Gambia releases accused homosexuals | ThinkSpain.com