Gambian leader Yahya Jammeh has rejected the result of the presidential election held earlier this month, a week after admitting defeat.
Speaking on state TV, Mr Jammeh cited "abnormalities" in the vote and called for fresh elections.
Mr Jammeh, who came to power in a coup in 1994, suffered a shock defeat to Adama Barrow, who won more than 45% of the vote.
The US "strongly condemned" Mr Jammeh's statement.
"This action is a reprehensible and unacceptable breach of faith with the people of The Gambia and an egregious attempt to undermine a credible election process and remain in power illegitimately," said state department spokesman Mark Toner.
Mr Barrow, a property developer, is due to take office in late January. Mai Ahmad Fatty, the head of his transition team, told Reuters they were "consulting on what to do", adding: "As far as we are concerned, the people have voted. We will maintain peace and stability and not let anyone provoke us into violence."
The Gambia is the smallest country on mainland Africa, with a population of fewer than two million.

Mr Jammeh said that he now rejected the results of the election "in totality".
"After a thorough investigation, I have decided to reject the outcome of the recent election," Mr Jammeh said.
"I lament serious and unacceptable abnormalities which have reportedly transpired during the electoral process.
"I recommend fresh and transparent elections which will be officiated by a God-fearing and independent electoral commission."

Uncertain future:
Analysis by Thomas Fessy, BBC West Africa correspondent
Yahya Jammeh appeared on state TV brandishing a document supposedly proving irregularities when the votes were tallied last week.
Mr Jammeh said the results were unacceptable. He said figures had been transposed swelling the number of votes in favour of his opponent, Adama Barrow, whom he recognised as president-elect live on television after the election results were announced.
Yahya Jammeh called for a fresh vote.
Over the past week people have been celebrating the end of his 22-year-long rule but tonight The Gambia's future looks uncertain again.
The government in neighbouring Senegal condemned the move and called for an emergency meeting of the UN Security Council. Foreign Minister Mankeur Ndiaye, speaking on national television, urged President Jammeh to respect the election result.

A Human Rights Watch spokesman also said it was "deeply concerned".
"The international community, notably [regional bloc] Ecowas and the African Union, should loudly protest any unlawful attempt to subvert the will of the Gambian people," said Babatunde Olugboji, deputy programme director.

The streets of the capital, Banjul, were reported to be calm on Friday night although soldiers were seen placing sandbags in strategic locations across the city, AFP news agency reports.
Only last week, Mr Jammeh was shown on state TV calling Mr Barrow to wish him well.
"You are the elected president of The Gambia, and I wish you all the best. I have no ill will," he said at the time.
According to the electoral commission, the result of the vote on 1 December was:
Mr Barrow won 263,515 votes (45.5%)
President Jammeh took 212,099 (36.7%)
A third-party candidate, Mama Kandeh, won 102,969 (17.8%)

In his 22 years in power, Mr Jammeh acquired a reputation as a ruthless leader.
Ahead of the election, Human Rights Watch accused him of using violence to silence critics. The group said two activists had died in custody and dozens of people had been jailed and denied medical or legal help.

http://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-38271480

[size=18pt]Exactly , it was rigged jor. Ah ah. [/size]

Laurent Gbagbo's case will be better than his.
He is heading the Gaddafi's way.

I knew he was really not facing reality when he conceded to his opponent Adama Barrow. Now he has had time to think over life after office, he has discovered that he is useless without the Presidency. He has discovered that he has no skills or character for doing good as the world requires. All hi's contribution in life is to cause mischief and harm to people. Now out of office, he can't wield such powers and is very useless. He is also a persona non grata in many countries, he can't live peacefully elsewhere without the trappings of the office, and he can't stay in Gambia as a commoner.

The ICC might be asked to prosecute him for God-knows-which-of-his-crimes. The Presidency is his life and without it, he is better dead. He knows he won't succeed in this ploy, but he wants to make so much trouble and bring everyone down with him.

My advice to the President Elect is to leave Gambia before he poisons and kill him to bring up one constitutional lacuna that will allow him continue in office, conduct fresh election while in office , rig massively and continue. Barrow should start touring the western countries and engage Gambians in the diaspora. This will afford him opportunity to stay away till when he will be inaugurated. It will also make him build alliances.


Yaya Jammeh is a reflection of African politicians. Many of them are so useless that they can't fit in elsewhere except being in power. Remove them from power and they will become like rats Shorne off its furs. Their quest for power is informed by insecurity and a need to become something that requires only mischief.

Africa my Africa !