Thousands of UK and Dutch tourists evacuated from The Gambia as political crises deepens

Thousands of UK and Dutch tourists are being evacuated from The Gambia.

The country is popular with European holidaymakers because of its beaches.

Meanwhile, The Gambia's parliament has extended President Yahya Jammeh's term, which is due to end on Thursday following his defeat in elections, by 90 days.

It also approved his decision to declare a 90-day state of emergency in the tiny West African state.

Regional leaders have threatened to use military force to oust Mr. Jammeh if he refuses to hand power to President-elect Adama Barrow on Thursday.

In a televised announcement on Tuesday, Mr. Jammeh said "any acts of disobedience to the laws of The Gambia, incitement of violence and acts intended to disturb public order and peace" were banned under the state of emergency.

He said security forces were instructed to "maintain absolute peace, law and order".

The US State Department urged Mr. Jammeh to transfer power to Mr. Barrow on Thursday.

Regional bloc Economic Community of West African States, (ECOWAS) has prepared a Senegal-led force to oust Mr Jammeh if he refuses to step down.

Mr. Jammeh has said there were irregularities in the election process, including the turning away of some of his supporters from polling stations, and errors made by the electoral commission.

The commission accepted that some of the results it initially published contained errors, but said Mr. Barrow had still won.

Mr. Jammeh has said he will stay in office until new elections are held.

Retaining power would also ensure he was not prosecuted in The Gambia for alleged abuses committed during his rule.

SOURCE: BBC News