A top official in Gambia's opposition People's Progress Party and former government minister, Omar Jallow, appeared in court Wednesday accused of assaulting a woman militant in the ruling movement.
Jallow, the chairman of the PPP's interim executive committee, was freed on bail after the first hearing, with seven alleged accomplices, and the judge ordered that the case be heard on October 17.
The former agriculture minister and the seven other men have been charged with assaulting Salka Faal, a local party leader of President Yahya Jammeh's Alliance for Patriotic Reorientation and Construction (APRC).
Jallow is the only political figure of any note remaining in the west African country from onetime president Sir Dawda Jawara's government.
He was arrested on Monday as he went upcountry to take part in a presidential election campaign ahead of a vote on October 18.
The court released him at the request of his lawyers to allow him to take part in the campaign.
Jallow's party is a part of a coalition with other opposition movements spearheaded by Ousainou Darboe, leader of the United Democratic Party a main contender to replace Jammeh as head of state in the former British colony -- BANJUL (AFP)
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