WASHINGTON, Jan 13 (AFP) - US investigators have arrived in the west
African country of Gambia to assist authorities in a probe of an alleged
plot to kill the US ambassador there, the State Department said Monday.
   "Special agents of the Diplomatic Security service arrived in Banjul
over the weekend to assist in the investigation," said Lynn Cassel, a
department spokeswoman.
   On Friday, Cassel said Gambia had informed the United States that it had
arrested two people Thursday suspected of plotting to kill US ambassador
Jackson McDonald and that Washington took the allegations "very seriously."
   On Sunday, Gambian Interior Minister Osman Badjie said the country's
security forces were questioning a man suspected of involvement in the plot
who had been arrested in a hotel on the outskirts of the capital.
   He would not reveal the man's identity and refused to give any further
comment.
   Cassel could offer no explanation as to why Badjie had referred to only
one person being in custody, noting the Gambians had said two people were
involved.
   However, she again praised Banjul for its "outstanding" cooperation in
the matter.
   Cassel declined to elaborate on the nature of the alleged threat, saying
"it is premature to speculate while the investigation is still underway."

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