Mother of man who led Gambia's failed coup has been held for over a week, relatives say

DAKAR, Senegal – Relatives say the mother of the man believed to have led last month's coup attempt in Gambia has been held by security forces for over a week.

Earlier this week, Gambia's government named Lt. Col. Lamin Sanneh as "the leader of the attackers" in the failed Dec. 30 power grab.

Sanneh died in fighting with soldiers loyal to President Yahya Jammeh. Speaking on condition of anonymity for fear of reprisals, relatives of his mother, Metta Njie, said she was detained shortly thereafter and has since been held in an unknown location.

A government spokesman this week declined to comment on reports that relatives of coup-plotters were being arrested.

In the United States, two U.S. citizens of Gambian descent have been charged with participating in the bid to overthrow Jammeh's government.