Coup plot 'thwarted' in Gambia

Gambia's President, Yahya Jammeh has confirmed that he is still in charge of the West African state after his security forces thwarted an attempted coup staged by an ex-army commander

There was heavy gunfire near the presidential palace in Banjul in the early hours of Tuesday as the coup plotters sought to take control of the government. Mr Jammeh who seized power in a coup in 1994 is reported to have been on a visit to France while this was going on.

The government had earlier dismissed the claims of an attempted coup in a statement broadcast on state radio but Mr Jammeh later confirmed the attack saying that forces loyal to Lamin Sanneh, a "disgraced" former soldier, invaded The Gambia from Senegal "in an attempt to overthrow its legitimate government".

According to Jammeh, the attackers were quickly repelled, with security forces killing four of them and capturing four more.

"Rest assured that the Enemies of the People have been defeated," a statement by the President said.