afrol News, 20 May - Gambian leader has given a 24-hour ultimatum to homosexuals to leave his country before they face doom. President Yahya Jammeh, who said anti-gay laws - stricter than those in Iran - are in place in The Gambia, had threatened to "behead" gays.

Mr Jammeh said he would not tolerate "sinful and immoral acts like homosexuality" in The Gambia, a country of civilized people and believers.

"Foreigners are cordially welcomed in The Gambia, but not bad elements," Gambian President told a rally outside the capital Banjul, giving homosexuals and criminals, including drug barons until last Friday to leave the country.

He ordered landlords and hotel owners to kick out homosexuals ahead of a mass patrol to be conducted by the security. This exercise is meant to weed out bad elements in the society, and "we will not hesitate to close down any hotel or lodge that accommodates homosexuals."

Jammeh said his government will never accept "dirty individuals" in a predominantly Muslim country that has high regards for positive cultural and religious practices.

Few months ago, a dozen of Senegalese homosexuals fled to The Gambia after they they feared their lives. The publication of a story and photos of a gay wedding by a local magazine, Icones, culminated in arrests and detentions of homosexuals.

Gays quickly moved to Mauritania after seeing signs of danger in the neighbouring Gambia whose leadership has been known for being intolerant to homosexuals and homosexuality.
Gambian President also attacked Gambians, accusing them of underutilizing what he called "a lot of opportunities created by my government", leaving foreigners to make fortune out of them. He said this was why foreigners dominate most public markets in the country's urban and peri-urban areas.

He vowed to seize all Gambian-owned stores rented to foreigners because "we are sick and tired of investing for only foreigners to benefit."

Jammeh - a former Lieutnant - ascended to power through the barrel of a gun in 1994 toppling the regime of Dawda Jawara in a bloodless coup.

He said since then his government has spent over US $100 million towards the development of the country, but that 95% of this amount have gone to foreigners.

The military-turned-civilian leader reiterated his much-trumpeted back to land call, which he believed, is the only way that The Gambia will attain food self-sufficiency.

By Musa Saidykhan

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