Jammeh blamed the international donor community for economic difficulties.

Jammeh refutes allegations

                  President Yahya Jammeh has spoken publicly for the first
time about allegations of corruption levelled against him and his government
over the so-called crude oil saga.

Information has been circulating since the beginning of this month linking
him to the alleged secret sale of Nigerian crude oil given to The Gambia at
concessionary rates.

According to Radio Gambia reports, while meeting Muslim elders as part of a
traditional Koriteh day celebrations at State House, Sunday, President
Jammeh emphatically denied involvement in this or any underhand deals since
he assumed power.

The president blamed the international donor community for the  country's
present economic difficulties saying that since he came
to power six years ago, The Gambia has not benefitted from the
donor community despite several promises.

Turning to the significance of Koriteh, the president mentioned
the importance of faith in Allah and told the Muslim elders that it
was their duty to address the problems confronting the Muslim
community.

On a wider scale, he urged Gambians to work towards the maintenance of the
peace and stability enjoyed by the country. Earlier in the day, President
Jammeh travelled from his home in Kanilai to attend end of Ramadan prayers
at the King Fahd Mosque, Banjul.

The prayers, attended by secretaries of state, was led by Alhaji
Cherno Kah, the deputy imam of Banjul. After delivering the         sermon,
the imam performed the ritual of converting five people to
Islam. The president later accompanied the imam ratib of Banjul to
his residence.


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