Coup rumours upset Gambia
29/09/2003 18:33  - (SA)

Banjul, Gambia - A roundup of black-market money changers was mistaken for
a coup attempt on Monday, spreading panic in this tiny west African
capital, authorities said.

Shopkeepers barred their doors, parents pulled their children from schools,
and residents dashed home.

The presence of an unusually large number of soldiers patrolling Banjul's
streets sparked the rumors of an attempt to overthrow President Yahya
Jammeh - who himself rose to power by staging a military takeover nearly a
decade ago.

Tourism and Culture Minister Yankouba Touray told The Associated Press that
officials had beefed up security ahead of a raid Monday on thousands of
money changers operating without official sanction.

When wary residents saw the military buildup, and money changers fleeing in
its wake, they took fright, said Touray, who is also spokesperson for
Jammeh's political party.

He insisted there was no coup attempt, and there were no immediate reports
of gunshots or injuries.

By mid-afternoon, streets were calm again and people had begun venturing
out of their homes.

Jammeh seized power in a 1994 military coup against Dawda Jawara, whom he
accused of corruption.

Jammeh retired from the military to qualify for elections in 1996, held
under pressure from international donors seeking a return to civilian rule.

He won that race, but only after barring Jawara, the only other president
the nation of 1.3 million has had since independence from Britain in 1965.

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