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    November 25, 2011

Early Results Show Gambian President in the Lead

   VOA News
   Sealed ballot boxes are seen after closure of the polling station in
   Serrekunda during the presidential elections, November 24, 2011
   Photo: AFP
   Sealed ballot boxes are seen after closure of the polling station in
   Serrekunda during the presidential elections, November 24, 2011

   Preliminary results show Gambian President Yahya Jammeh is headed to
   re-election in a poll that has been condemned by the region's main
   economic bloc.
   Election officials say Mr. Jammeh was leading Friday with about half of
   the votes counted.
   The president faced two rivals in Thursday's election, opposition
   candidate Ousainu Darboe and independent candidate Hamat Bah.

   Gambian President Yahya Jammeh (2nd R) leaves a polling station after
   casting his ballot in the presidential elections in Banjul (File)

REUTERS

   Gambian President Yahya Jammeh (2nd R) leaves a polling station after
   casting his ballot in the presidential elections in Banjul (File)

   On Thursday, Mr. Jammeh said voters would elect him to a new five-year
   term based on his record since taking power in a coup 17 years ago. He
   said he has accomplished more than the British did during 400 years of
   colonialism.
   The president's supporters say he has helped improve the country's
   infrastructure, education and health care. But his critics say Gambia
   is still deep in poverty. They accuse the president of being
   responsible for killings and torture, and stifling political dissent
   and press freedoms.
   The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) said this week
   the vote cannot be considered fair, citing alleged intimidation of
   voters and ruling party control of the media.
   The head of Gambia's election commission rejected the criticism.
   Mustapha Carayol said Thursday that each party campaigned freely and
   there was no intimidation.

   Gambian opposition presidential candidate Ousainou Darboe (File)

AP

   Gambian opposition presidential candidate Ousainou Darboe (File)

   Opposition candidate Ousainu Darboe said Gambians are disenchanted with
   Mr. Jammeh and are ready for change.
   Gambia uses a unique voting method in which voters drop a marble into a
   drum representing their candidate. The system was devised to circumvent
   the West African country's high illiteracy rate.

   Some information for this report was provided by AP, AFP and Reuters.

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