Channel 4 film crew on spying charges denied bail

Two British journalists who are part of a team of four held in Liberia on espionage charges were refused bail yesterday as supporters were told they face the death penalty.

Two British journalists who are part of a team of four held in Liberia on espionage charges were refused bail yesterday as supporters were told they face the death penalty.

The Foreign Office meanwhile said it was "extremely worried" at reports that the men had been mistreated at the headquarters of the National Security Agency, a unit under the personal control of Liberia's President Charles Taylor.

The journalists - British director David Barrie, cameraman Tim Lambon, who has dual South African-British nationality, South African sound man Gugulakhe Radebe and award-winning Sierra Leonean film-maker Sorious Samura - had been working for the London-based Insight News on behalf of Channel 4.

The men were charged on Monday without their lawyers present and are in prison in the capital Monrovia. Authorities claimed they found material on the videotapes that was "damaging" to the Liberian government and state security.

Lawyers for the team immediately launched an appeal against the refusal of bail yesterday. The Foreign Office said it was "unclear" why the men's application for bail had been rejected by criminal judge Timothy Swote.

A spokesman said: "It is reported that the journalists were transferred to the NSA headquarters last night and have been mistreated. We are extremely worried about this development.