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Gambia crisis: Jammeh given last chance to resign as troops close in | Gambia crisis: Jammeh given last chance to resign as troops close in |
(about 3 hours later) | |
West African leaders have given Yahya Jammeh a final opportunity to relinquish power after Senegalese troops entered The Gambia. | West African leaders have given Yahya Jammeh a final opportunity to relinquish power after Senegalese troops entered The Gambia. |
Mr Jammeh has been given until noon on Friday to leave office or be forced out by UN-backed regional forces. | Mr Jammeh has been given until noon on Friday to leave office or be forced out by UN-backed regional forces. |
Troops have been told to halt their advance until the deadline passes. | Troops have been told to halt their advance until the deadline passes. |
The Economic Community of West African States (Ecowas) is acting in support of Adama Barrow, who was sworn in as the new Gambian president on Thursday. | The Economic Community of West African States (Ecowas) is acting in support of Adama Barrow, who was sworn in as the new Gambian president on Thursday. |
His legitimacy as president, after winning last month's election, has been recognised internationally. | His legitimacy as president, after winning last month's election, has been recognised internationally. |
Last-ditch mediation talks, led by Guinea's President Alpha Conde, are due on Friday morning. | Last-ditch mediation talks, led by Guinea's President Alpha Conde, are due on Friday morning. |
Chairman of the Ecowas commission, Marcel Alain de Souza, said that if the meeting with Mr Conde proved unsuccessful, militarily action would follow. | Chairman of the Ecowas commission, Marcel Alain de Souza, said that if the meeting with Mr Conde proved unsuccessful, militarily action would follow. |
"If by midday, he [Mr Jammeh] doesn't agree to leave The Gambia under the banner of President Conde, we really will intervene militarily," he said. | "If by midday, he [Mr Jammeh] doesn't agree to leave The Gambia under the banner of President Conde, we really will intervene militarily," he said. |
Ecowas said that its forces had encountered no resistance after entering The Gambia on Thursday. | Ecowas said that its forces had encountered no resistance after entering The Gambia on Thursday. |
Read more | Read more |
Troops from Senegal and other West African countries crossed into The Gambia after an initial deadline for Mr Jammeh to stand down passed with his resignation. | Troops from Senegal and other West African countries crossed into The Gambia after an initial deadline for Mr Jammeh to stand down passed with his resignation. |
Mr Barrow, who remains in Senegal, has said that he will not return to Gambia's capital, Banjul, until the military operation had ended. | Mr Barrow, who remains in Senegal, has said that he will not return to Gambia's capital, Banjul, until the military operation had ended. |
The threat by the West African regional bloc Ecowas to remove Mr Jammeh by force is supported by the 15-member UN Security Council, although the council has stressed that a political solution should be the priority. | The threat by the West African regional bloc Ecowas to remove Mr Jammeh by force is supported by the 15-member UN Security Council, although the council has stressed that a political solution should be the priority. |
A Senegalese army spokesman, Col Abdou Ndiaye, told the BBC that troops who were now in The Gambia were prepared to fight if necessary. | A Senegalese army spokesman, Col Abdou Ndiaye, told the BBC that troops who were now in The Gambia were prepared to fight if necessary. |
"It is already war, if we find any resistance, we will fight it," he said, adding: "If there are people who are fighting for the former president, we will fight them." | "It is already war, if we find any resistance, we will fight it," he said, adding: "If there are people who are fighting for the former president, we will fight them." |
But Col Ndiaye said the main goal of Ecowas was to restore democracy and to allow the newly-elected president to take power. | But Col Ndiaye said the main goal of Ecowas was to restore democracy and to allow the newly-elected president to take power. |
In his inaugural speech at the Gambian embassy in Senegal's capital, Dakar, President Barrow ordered all members of The Gambia's armed forces to remain in their barracks. | In his inaugural speech at the Gambian embassy in Senegal's capital, Dakar, President Barrow ordered all members of The Gambia's armed forces to remain in their barracks. |
Any found illegally bearing arms would be considered "rebels", he said. | |
Why is Mr Jammeh refusing to go? | Why is Mr Jammeh refusing to go? |
After first accepting defeat he reversed his position and said he would not step down. He declared a 90-day state of emergency, blaming irregularities in the electoral process. | After first accepting defeat he reversed his position and said he would not step down. He declared a 90-day state of emergency, blaming irregularities in the electoral process. |
The electoral commission accepted that some of its early results had contained errors but said they would not have affected Mr Barrow's win. | The electoral commission accepted that some of its early results had contained errors but said they would not have affected Mr Barrow's win. |
Mr Jammeh has said he will stay in office until new elections are held. | Mr Jammeh has said he will stay in office until new elections are held. |
Remaining in power would also give him protection against prosecution for alleged abuses committed during his rule. | Remaining in power would also give him protection against prosecution for alleged abuses committed during his rule. |