20120825
AP
JOHANNESBURG (AP) — Amnesty International says it has credible reports that the West African nation of Gambia has executed nine convicted criminals and that more death-row inmates are under imminent threat.

Eight men and one woman were removed from their prison cells Friday night and executed, according to Amnesty.

Gambia's information minister was not immediately available to confirm the report.

Amnesty said the executions are the first in Gambia since 1987. Gambia reinstated the death penalty in 1995 but had not executed anyone.

Gambia's President Yaya Jammeh vowed earlier this month to execute all the country's inmates who had been sentenced to death as part of efforts to dissuade people from committing "heinous crimes" and to curb a rising crime rate.

Amnesty said there were 47 inmates on death row.