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| Gambia: Ecowas observers boycott 'unfair poll' | Gambia: Ecowas observers boycott 'unfair poll' |
| (1 day later) | |
| The Gambia does not have a political environment conducive for free and fair presidential elections to be held, the West African regional body has said. | The Gambia does not have a political environment conducive for free and fair presidential elections to be held, the West African regional body has said. |
| Ecowas said that for this reason it was not sending election observers to monitor Thursday's poll. | Ecowas said that for this reason it was not sending election observers to monitor Thursday's poll. |
| Its fact-finding mission found intimidation and an unacceptable level of media control by the ruling party. | Its fact-finding mission found intimidation and an unacceptable level of media control by the ruling party. |
| President Yahya Jammeh seized power in a coup in 1994 and has won three widely criticised elections since then. | President Yahya Jammeh seized power in a coup in 1994 and has won three widely criticised elections since then. |
| He has been accused of intolerance to both criticism and dissent in the small West African country which is a popular tourist destination. | He has been accused of intolerance to both criticism and dissent in the small West African country which is a popular tourist destination. |
| The chairman of Gambia's Independent Electoral Commission, Mustapha Carayol, has reacted angrily to the Ecowas decision. | The chairman of Gambia's Independent Electoral Commission, Mustapha Carayol, has reacted angrily to the Ecowas decision. |
| "The allegations are all lies," he told the BBC. | "The allegations are all lies," he told the BBC. |
| 'Cowed by repression' | 'Cowed by repression' |
| Mr Jammeh, 46, faces Ousainou Darboe, leader of the United Democratic Party, and Hamat Bah, who is being backed by a coalition of four opposition parties. | Mr Jammeh, 46, faces Ousainou Darboe, leader of the United Democratic Party, and Hamat Bah, who is being backed by a coalition of four opposition parties. |
| "The preparations and political environment for the said election are adjudged by the commission not to be conducive for the conduct of free, fair and transparent polls," the 15-state West African bloc said in a statement. | "The preparations and political environment for the said election are adjudged by the commission not to be conducive for the conduct of free, fair and transparent polls," the 15-state West African bloc said in a statement. |
| It said its investigations found "an opposition and electorate cowed by repression and intimidation". | It said its investigations found "an opposition and electorate cowed by repression and intimidation". |
| Ahead of the presidential poll in 2006, Ecowas urged the opposition not to boycott the elections and endanger the "democratisation of the country". | Ahead of the presidential poll in 2006, Ecowas urged the opposition not to boycott the elections and endanger the "democratisation of the country". |
| Mr Jammeh's government has been criticised by international rights groups for its attitude to civil liberties, especially freedom of the press. | Mr Jammeh's government has been criticised by international rights groups for its attitude to civil liberties, especially freedom of the press. |
| Correspondents say there are very few posters for the opposition candidates around the country. | Correspondents say there are very few posters for the opposition candidates around the country. |
| Giant campaign billboards can be seen in the capital, Banjul, reading that Mr Jammeh is a "master peace maker and champion nation builder", AFP news agency reports. | Giant campaign billboards can be seen in the capital, Banjul, reading that Mr Jammeh is a "master peace maker and champion nation builder", AFP news agency reports. |