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Gambia President Yahya Jammeh says coup plot 'thwarted' | |
(about 2 hours later) | |
The president of The Gambia says he remains in charge of the West African state after his security forces thwarted an attempted coup. | |
Yahya Jammeh said an ex-army commander tried to take control of the country while he was visiting France. His current whereabouts are unclear. | |
Heavy gunfire had earlier erupted near the presidential palace in the capital. | Heavy gunfire had earlier erupted near the presidential palace in the capital. |
Mr Jammeh seized power in a coup in 1994 and his critics accuse him of ruling with an iron-hand. | Mr Jammeh seized power in a coup in 1994 and his critics accuse him of ruling with an iron-hand. |
Diplomatic and military sources said soldiers from the presidential guard appeared to have mounted the attack on the presidential palace in Banjul in the early hours of Tuesday. | Diplomatic and military sources said soldiers from the presidential guard appeared to have mounted the attack on the presidential palace in Banjul in the early hours of Tuesday. |
The government denied there had been an attempted coup in a statement broadcast on state radio. | |
Missing president | |
However, Mr Jammeh later acknowledged the attack and said forces loyal to Lamin Sanneh - who he called a "disgraced" former soldier - had invaded The Gambia from Senegal "in an attempt to overthrow its legitimate government". | |
He said the attackers were quickly repelled, with security forces killing four of them and capturing four more. | |
"Rest assured that the Enemies of the People have been defeated," the president said in a statement. | |
He said he would be "returning from my state visit to France immediately," but a French foreign ministry spokesman said there was no indication Mr Jammeh had been in the country. Some reports say he is in Dubai. | |
State radio had been off-air during the fighting, but resumed transmission later. An announcer said "peace and calm continue to prevail" in The Gambia. | |
BBC World Service Africa Editor Richard Hamilton says it is difficult to know exactly what is going on in the country because the media is tightly controlled by the government. | |
Journalists told the BBC that the capital remained in lockdown with only government soldiers allowed in and out of the city. | |
A British teacher in Bakau, about 7km (4 miles) from Banjul, told the BBC that The Gambia had shut its nearby land borders with Senegal. | |
"Most of the big shops are closed at this point but there's absolutely no military or police presence," he said. | "Most of the big shops are closed at this point but there's absolutely no military or police presence," he said. |
'Bizarre views' | 'Bizarre views' |
In 2011, Mr Jammeh told the BBC he would rule The Gambia for "a billion years". | In 2011, Mr Jammeh told the BBC he would rule The Gambia for "a billion years". |
He has won four disputed elections since taking power as a 29-year-old army officer in 1994. | |
Mr Jammeh is known for expressing bizarre views. In 2007, he claimed that he could cure Aids with a herbal concoction - a view condemned by health experts. | Mr Jammeh is known for expressing bizarre views. In 2007, he claimed that he could cure Aids with a herbal concoction - a view condemned by health experts. |
Later, he also claimed that he could cure infertility among women. | Later, he also claimed that he could cure infertility among women. |
Mr Jammeh is also known for his virulent opposition to gay rights, having once threatened to behead gay people. | Mr Jammeh is also known for his virulent opposition to gay rights, having once threatened to behead gay people. |
The tiny West African state, with its sandy beaches, is a popular tourist destination. | The tiny West African state, with its sandy beaches, is a popular tourist destination. |