afrol News, 16 February - The Gambia authorities have expelled the United Nations children's agency envoy the agency statement said on Monday.

UNICEF said Gambian officials gave Ms Min Whee-Kang 24 hours to leave the West African state.

"UNICEF received a letter last week from the government stating that the country representative, Ms Min-Whee Kang, was no longer welcome in the Gambia," UNICEF's spokeswoman said.

According to local news reports, there was no immediate official explanation why the envoy was being chased out of the country.

In recent months, Gambia has been increasingly criticised over its bad human rights record and incessant violations.

In 2007 the UN Development Programme head was forced out of the country after openly criticising President Jammeh's claim of having a concoction that is strong enough to cure AIDS. The UNDP official had warned that Mr Jammeh risked undermining efforts to tackle the disease.

President Jammeh, who has ruled the former British colony since taking power in a bloodless coup in 1994, has been repeatedly attacked by rights campaigners for his repressive attitude particularly towards the media.

He came under fire last year from press watchdog Reporters Without Borders (RSF) after six journalists who criticised him were jailed.

By staff writer

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