Gambian president declares state of emergency two days before he is to step down

Gambia's president Yahya Jammeh, has declared state of emergency in the tiny west African country, just two days before he is expected to leave office and handover power to opposition leader Adama Barrow who defeated him in the December, 1, 2016 elections.

Jammeh who has refused to admit defeat and step down said in a national TV address on Tuesday that the measure was necessary because of "the unprecedented and extraordinary amount of foreign interference" in the December poll.

"I ... hereby declare a state of public emergency throughout the Islamic Republic of Gambia," Jammeh's said in a declaration.

"The state of emergency banned "acts of disobedience" and "acts intended to disturb public order," he added.

The African Union, the United Nations and the international community have called on Jammeh to step down and allow a peaceful transition of power.