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| Thomas Cook holidaymakers to be flown out of The Gambia | Thomas Cook holidaymakers to be flown out of The Gambia |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Thousands of Thomas Cook tourists will be returned to the UK from The Gambia after new Foreign Office travel advice. | |
| The firm plans to bring home 985 customers from package holidays over the next 48 hours, with four extra flights due to leave on Wednesday. | |
| Another 2,500 flight-only customers will be offered the "earliest available flight" from the west African country. | Another 2,500 flight-only customers will be offered the "earliest available flight" from the west African country. |
| Are you, your friends or relatives in The Gambia? Have you been affected? Tell us your experiences by emailing haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk | |
| The Foreign Office advises against all but essential travel to The Gambia, based on the risk of unrest. | |
| A 90-day state of emergency has been declared and approved by Gambia's parliament over disputed elections. | A 90-day state of emergency has been declared and approved by Gambia's parliament over disputed elections. |
| The country's president, Yahya Jammeh, was due to finish his term on Thursday following his defeat in elections, but this has now been extended by 90 days by parliament. | The country's president, Yahya Jammeh, was due to finish his term on Thursday following his defeat in elections, but this has now been extended by 90 days by parliament. |
| What next for The Gambia? | What next for The Gambia? |
| Regional leaders have threatened to use military force to oust Mr Jammeh if he refuses to hand power to President-elect Adama Barrow on Thursday. | Regional leaders have threatened to use military force to oust Mr Jammeh if he refuses to hand power to President-elect Adama Barrow on Thursday. |
| 'Awful situation' | 'Awful situation' |
| Elaine, who is in the country on holiday, told the BBC: "It's total chaos here, even [the] rep does not know what's going on." | |
| One person told the BBC: "My mum and her husband are in Gambia and the internet is down, phones are down and no news channels and the rep isn't coming to see them till 10:15. | One person told the BBC: "My mum and her husband are in Gambia and the internet is down, phones are down and no news channels and the rep isn't coming to see them till 10:15. |
| "Awful situation which they would have known nothing about if I hadn't called them." | "Awful situation which they would have known nothing about if I hadn't called them." |
| One holidaymaker said they were waiting at their hotel for the transport home and said: "All hotel guests to leave today, however people were still arriving here for their holiday in the last couple of days. | One holidaymaker said they were waiting at their hotel for the transport home and said: "All hotel guests to leave today, however people were still arriving here for their holiday in the last couple of days. |
| "We heard about the problems and contacted Thomas Cook. They said we couldn't change our travel dates unless the government site said no travel to Gambia." | "We heard about the problems and contacted Thomas Cook. They said we couldn't change our travel dates unless the government site said no travel to Gambia." |
| Another tourist said they had not received enough information about the situation. | Another tourist said they had not received enough information about the situation. |
| Thomas Cook said it expected the company's special assistance team would arrive in The Gambia at about 13:30 GMT. | |
| In a statement, Thomas Cook said: "We will operate a programme of additional flights into Banjul airport over the next 48 hours to bring the 985 UK customers we currently have on holiday in Gambia home, including four additional flights on Wednesday 18 January. | In a statement, Thomas Cook said: "We will operate a programme of additional flights into Banjul airport over the next 48 hours to bring the 985 UK customers we currently have on holiday in Gambia home, including four additional flights on Wednesday 18 January. |
| "In addition, we have approximately 2,500 flight-only customers in Gambia, whom we are contacting to offer the earliest possible flight availability for return to the UK. | |
| "Our colleagues on the ground in Gambia will proactively contact all customers on holiday with us as soon as possible to prepare for return to the UK." | |
| Two additional flights are due to leave for Manchester and two will head to London Gatwick. There is also a regularly scheduled flight to Manchester. | |
| Mr Jammeh has decried "extraordinary" foreign interference in his country's affairs and in December's presidential election. | Mr Jammeh has decried "extraordinary" foreign interference in his country's affairs and in December's presidential election. |
| Regional leaders have been trying to persuade him to hand over power to President-elect Mr Barrow, a successful property developer who reportedly once worked as a security guard at an Argos store in north London. | Regional leaders have been trying to persuade him to hand over power to President-elect Mr Barrow, a successful property developer who reportedly once worked as a security guard at an Argos store in north London. |
| Thomas Cook is offering free amendments or cancellations for holidays to The Gambia scheduled until Friday, and free amendments after that date. | Thomas Cook is offering free amendments or cancellations for holidays to The Gambia scheduled until Friday, and free amendments after that date. |
| Are you, your friends or relatives in The Gambia? Have you been affected? Tell us your experiences by emailing haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk | |
| You can also contact us in the following ways: | You can also contact us in the following ways: |
| Or use the form below | Or use the form below |