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Gambia election chief stands by Yahya Jammeh defeat | |
(about 1 hour later) | |
The Gambia's elections commission head has dismissed President Yahya Jammeh's call to annul the election he was declared to have lost. | The Gambia's elections commission head has dismissed President Yahya Jammeh's call to annul the election he was declared to have lost. |
Mr Jammeh said on state television on Saturday that he rejected the result and his party announced they will file a petition to the Supreme Court. | Mr Jammeh said on state television on Saturday that he rejected the result and his party announced they will file a petition to the Supreme Court. |
Elections head Alieu Momarr Njai told Reuters that "if it goes to court, we can prove every vote cast". | Elections head Alieu Momarr Njai told Reuters that "if it goes to court, we can prove every vote cast". |
Gambians use marbles instead of ballot papers to cast votes. | Gambians use marbles instead of ballot papers to cast votes. |
In his TV appearance, Mr Jammeh announced his "total rejection of the election result... thereby annulling the election". | In his TV appearance, Mr Jammeh announced his "total rejection of the election result... thereby annulling the election". |
He said "we will go back to the polls because I want to make sure every Gambian has voted". | He said "we will go back to the polls because I want to make sure every Gambian has voted". |
He said he was preparing a petition "against the flawed decision of the Independent Elections Commission". | He said he was preparing a petition "against the flawed decision of the Independent Elections Commission". |
But Mr Njai told Reuters: "The election results were correct, nothing will change that". | But Mr Njai told Reuters: "The election results were correct, nothing will change that". |
Adding errors | Adding errors |
According to the electoral commission's latest count, as a result of the vote on 1 December: | |
They were revised by the country's electoral commission on 5 December, when it emerged that the ballots for one area had been added incorrectly, swelling Mr Barrow's vote. | |
The error, which also added votes to the other candidates, "has not changed the status quo" of the result, the commission said. | The error, which also added votes to the other candidates, "has not changed the status quo" of the result, the commission said. |
However, it narrowed Mr Barrow's margin of victory from 9% to 4%. | However, it narrowed Mr Barrow's margin of victory from 9% to 4%. |
Mr Jammeh, who has ruled the Gambia for 22 years, originally conceded victory to Mr Barrow, who used to be a security guard in chain store Argos in London. | |
He was even filmed telephoning Mr Barrow saying "you are the elected president of Gambia and I wish you all the best". | He was even filmed telephoning Mr Barrow saying "you are the elected president of Gambia and I wish you all the best". |
Last week a leading member of Mr Barrow's coalition told the UK's The Guardian newspaper that President Jammeh would be prosecuted for alleged crimes committed during his rule. | |
Mr Jammeh's Alliance for Patriotic Reorientation and Construction party announced, late on Saturday, that a petition would be filed to The Gambia's Supreme Court. | Mr Jammeh's Alliance for Patriotic Reorientation and Construction party announced, late on Saturday, that a petition would be filed to The Gambia's Supreme Court. |
In his U-turn rejecting the results, Mr Jammeh cited "serious and unacceptable abnormalities" in the electoral process, pointing to the errors mentioned by the electoral commission. | |
He called for "transparent elections which will be officiated by a God-fearing and independent electoral commission". | |
President-elect Barrow said on Sunday that he feared for his safety. | President-elect Barrow said on Sunday that he feared for his safety. |
In his 22 years in power, Mr Jammeh acquired a reputation as a ruthless leader. | |
Human rights group have accused his government of stifling the press and harassing opposition parties. |