Stockholm - Sweden, current holder of the European Union's rotating presidency, expressed concern Monday over the "heavy sentences" recently handed down against six journalists in the West African country of Gambia.

The EU said it had tracked the trial against the six who were accused of "seditious and defamatory publications."

The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) last week condemned the convictions and two-year jail terms as well as 20,000-dollar-fines handed down to each of the six journalists over having criticized President Yahya Jammeh.

The EU urged Gambia "to act in conformity with its international human rights and treaty obligations in considering any appeals." (dpa)