Jammeh asks rival to forget differences

Gambian President Yahya Jammeh appealed to his political rivals, non-supporters and Gambians at large to put aside their "differences of political idealogy" and work together to pursue the development agenda set for the country. "I would want to enjoin you all after the celebrations, to put the campaign and all the euphoria, the differences and misunderstanding of politics behind us and come together as one people to work with my government, supporters and non-supporters alike, to further develop this country," Jammeh said in a statement to the nation on Saturday after his election victory. "It is indeed the victory of the Gambian people for which we must all be justly proud," he added. Jammeh, of the Alliance for Patriotic Reorientation and Construction (APRC), was re-elected with 52.96 percent of the vote. In his speech, he also expressed his "deep appreciation" to his main challenger - Ousainou Darboe - who conceded defeat with 32 percent of the vote. Darboe headed a civilian coalition opposed to "any vestige of military rule". The three-week election campaign was marred with incidents of violence which resulted in the death at least one opposition supporter. A Commonwealth Observer mission, however, said the polls were "conducted satisfactorily" despite the tensions.