Presidential election in the Gambia - International and local observers of Thursday's presidential election in the Gambia have described the process as orderly, free and fair. The head of African Union (AU) observer mission Dr. Fonkam Samuel Azu’u said voting was 'free and fair'. He said presiding officers and party’s agents cooperated and voting was orderly while security was adequate. “I have not received any complaints from my men in any part of the country. I am in touch with all my men and no one has sent me any complaint; they all say the process was orderly,” Dr. Azu’u told PANA on the phone from West Coast Region.

He also said turnout was impressive as Gambians came out in their numbers to exercise their Constitutional right.

Mohammed Ahamed Woli, head of the Nigerian observer team, said turnout was impressive.

Dr. Woli, who is from the Nigeria Electoral Commission, told PANA that they were in the country to observe the election in their capacity as Nigerian electoral officials on the invitation from the Gambian Independent Electoral Commission (IEC).

He said there was order in all the polling stations they visited and they were satisfied with the conditions and conduct of the election.

“What I will say is that what we have seen is peaceful and is rooted in the Gambian culture,” Woli told PANA.

A local observer, Lamin Njie, told PANA on the phone that in the West Cost Region voting took place peacefully, as polling staff and security officers cooperated.

Nfamara Jawneh of the US Embassy observer team also said the process was orderly and there was on problem.

Incumbent president Yahya Jammeh has taken an early lead, accordingto the first result declared by the electoral commission.

Pana 25/11/2011