Eritreans, including Olympian Zeragaber Gebrehiwot, freed after 18 years in jail without trial

Ex-cyclist Zeragaber Gebrehiwot, who attended the 1980 Moscow Games, is among 13 released from a notorious jail.

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Among those freed were several prominent figures, including 69-year-old Olympian cyclist and businessman Zeragaber Gebrehiwot.

They had been held at Mai Serwa prison, known for its harsh conditions and where many of the inmates are believed to be political prisoners.

An unnamed source who was once detained in Mai Serwa told the BBC the prisoners were arrested in October 2007 following an assassination attempt on Col Simon Gebredingil, a senior internal security officer in President Isaias Afwerki's government.

Around 30 people were initially detained, according to the source. Some have been released over the years, but about 20 remained in custody.