Security forces fire shots to prevent supporters

Gambian security forces fired shots in the air on Monday night to prevent a clash between presidential and opposition supporters on the outskirts of the capital Banjul, news organisations reported police officials as saying.

Several thousand people were out on the streets in Serrekunda to welcome back the main opposition alliance candidate Ousainou Darboe from his campaign tour of rural areas. The police said they fired shots in the air to disperse the crowd as they feared a confrontation with President Yahya Jammeh's supporters who were nearby. There were no reports of any injuries, media reports said.

There have been several incidents of violence since campaigning for Thursday's presidential election began on 26 September. On Sunday several people were injured in clashes between rival supporters, BBC reported. There have also been allegations of fraud. The opposition has accused the ruling party of manufacturing false voting cards, BBC said. A four-member Economic Community of West African States delegation is scheduled to arrive in Banjul mid-week to monitor the presidential poll, PANA reported officials of ECOWAS as saying on Monday.

Jammeh, of the ruling Alliance for Patriotic Reorientation and Construction, seized power in a bloodless coup in 1994 and won an election two years later. Other presidential candidates are Sheriff Musatapha Dibba of the National Convention Party, Hamat Bah of the National Reconciliation Party and Sidia Jatta of the People's Democratic Organisation for Independence and Socialism.