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Gambia's President Jammeh 'to concede defeat' Gambia's Jammeh loses presidential election to Adamu Barrow
(35 minutes later)
The Gambia's President Yahya Jammeh is about to concede defeat, the electoral commission chairman has told the BBC. The Gambia's president of 22 years Yahya Jammeh will be replaced by a property developer, Adama Barrow, after losing the general election.
Mr Jammeh, who has been in power for 22 years, faced estate agent Adama Barrow in Thursday's election. Mr Jammeh, who came to power in a coup in 1994, has agreed to accept defeat, said electoral commission chief Alieu Momar Njie.
Electoral commission chief Alieu Momar Njie said it was unprecedented for a Gambian head of state to accept defeat before the final results. Before announcing the final result, Mr Njie appealed for calm as the country entered unchartered waters.
The West African country has not had a smooth transfer of power since independence in 1965. The Gambia has not had a smooth power transfer since independence in 1965.
There has been no official word from Mr Jammeh, who took power in a coup in 1994. Mr Njie said that Mr Barrow had won Thursday's election by more than 50,000 votes. He runs a property company which he founded in 2006.
The 51-year-old leader has been trailing Mr Barrow in partial results and was defeated in the capital, Banjul, his stronghold. A devout Muslim, Mr Jammeh, 51, once said he would rule for "one billion years" if "Allah willed it".
A devout Muslim, Mr Jammeh once said he would rule for "one billion years" if "Allah willed it".
"It's really unique that someone who has been ruling this country for so long has accepted defeat," Mr Njie told reporters."It's really unique that someone who has been ruling this country for so long has accepted defeat," Mr Njie told reporters.
Analysis: BBC World Service Africa editor Mary HarperAnalysis: BBC World Service Africa editor Mary Harper
Mr Jammeh's concession has been greeted with astonishment in The Gambia, where most people expected him to win. He has served four terms as president but it now looks as though this unpredictable and ruthless man is to be replaced by an estate agent. Mr Jammeh's defeat has been greeted with astonishment in The Gambia, where most people expected him to win. He has served four terms as president but now this unpredictable and ruthless man is to be replaced by a property developer.
Mr Jammeh's 22 years in power have brought repression and intolerance to this tiny seaside nation, popular for cheap holidays in the sun.Mr Jammeh's 22 years in power have brought repression and intolerance to this tiny seaside nation, popular for cheap holidays in the sun.
He has been tough on journalists, the opposition and gay people. He also said he could cure Aids and infertility.He has been tough on journalists, the opposition and gay people. He also said he could cure Aids and infertility.
During the campaign, the country's mostly young population seemed to be yearning for change, said the BBC's Umaru Fofana in Banjul. During the campaign, the country's mostly young population seemed to be yearning for change, said the BBC's Umaru Fofana in the capital, Banjul.
The economic challenges the country faces have forced many to make the perilous journey to Europe, with some drowning on the way, he said.The economic challenges the country faces have forced many to make the perilous journey to Europe, with some drowning on the way, he said.
Human rights groups have accused Mr Jammeh, who has in the past claimed he can cure Aids and infertility, of repression and abuses.Human rights groups have accused Mr Jammeh, who has in the past claimed he can cure Aids and infertility, of repression and abuses.
Several previous opposition leaders are in jail after taking part in a rare protest in April.Several previous opposition leaders are in jail after taking part in a rare protest in April.
Observers from the European Union (EU) and the West African regional bloc Ecowas did not attend the vote.Observers from the European Union (EU) and the West African regional bloc Ecowas did not attend the vote.
Who is Adama Barrow?Who is Adama Barrow?
Gambian officials opposed the presence of Western observers, but the EU said it was staying away out of concern about the fairness of the voting process.Gambian officials opposed the presence of Western observers, but the EU said it was staying away out of concern about the fairness of the voting process.
The African Union did despatch a handful of observers to supervise the vote, however.The African Union did despatch a handful of observers to supervise the vote, however.
The Gambia, a tiny country with a population of fewer than two million, is surrounded on three sides by Senegal and has a short Atlantic coastline popular with European tourists.The Gambia, a tiny country with a population of fewer than two million, is surrounded on three sides by Senegal and has a short Atlantic coastline popular with European tourists.