Gambia's president Yahya Jammeh refuses to step down, condemns mediation.

Gambian President of 22-years, Yahya Jammeh has said he won't step down and condemned the mediation efforts by West African regional bloc ECOWAS that intended to have him vacate the presidency, after he lost the December 1 election to opposition rival, Adama Barrow.

Jammeh was defeated by Barrow who had no political experience with 45.5 per cent of the vote against Jammeh's 36.7 per cent.

Speaking on state television, on Tuesday, Jammeh reiterated that he will not step down from power.

"I am not a coward. My right cannot be intimidated and violated. This is my position. Nobody can deprive me of that victory except the Almighty Allah," Jammeh said.

"Already the ECOWAS meeting was a formality. Before they came, they had already said Jammeh must step down. I will not step down," he said.

The 51-year-old had initially surprised the world when he accepted the results of the election and conceded defeat after the election and then changed his mind citing "unacceptable abnormalities" -- demanding a fresh vote. Read here

Several West African leaders including the president of Nigeria, Muhammadu Buhari, were in the country on Tuesday last week to try to convince Yahya Jammeh to relinquish power to the winner.

Barrow is due to be inaugurated on January 18 when Jammeh's tenure expires.