gambia

The president-elect is scheduled to take office on Thursday. But longtime President Yahya Jammeh has defiantly said he won't allow that to happen, citing supposed voting "irregularities."

Gambian president Yahya Jammeh is defying calls from regional and international leaders to give up power, despite his loss at the polls earlier this month.

Security forces descended on the country's election commission headquarters, ratcheting up tension in the country as regional leaders arrive to try and persuade the current president to quit power.

Gambia's longtime president initially seemed to accept the loss, but then suddenly reversed course and called for a new election. Regional leaders are also trying to persuade him to quit power.

Election officials say an opposition candidate has defeated Gambia's longtime leader in the country's presidential vote. It remains to be seen how the current president will react to the news.

This vote marks the most serious challenge yet to the rule of President Yahya Jammeh. The president has ruled for 22 years since he led a coup, and has a dismal human rights record.

Gambia is the third nation this month to withdraw from the International Criminal Court, accusing the tribunal of being biased against Africans.