BANJUL (Reuters) - Gambia's High Court has thrown out an appeal by the country's main opposition leader against President Yahya Jammeh's victory in September polls, saying the plaintiff had twice failed to show up for hearings.

Human rights lawyer Oussainou Darboe, who polled 27 percent against Jammeh's 67 percent in the September 22 election, contested the result after denouncing widespread intimidation of voters by the security forces and government officials.

"Since Oussainou Darboe filed the case in court, for the past two sittings he did not appear. He did not show any interest, therefore the case has been struck out," Gambia's chief justice Abdou Karim Savage said.

Darboe, who has been in Britain for the past two weeks on a private visit, was not immediately available to comment.

Jammeh seized power in 1994 as a young army lieutenant and his charisma permeates political life in continental Africa's smallest country.

Police officers wore ruling party colours during his rallies in the run-up to the elections while opposition posters were nowhere to be seen. Some local journalists said they feared reporting anything that might be viewed as critical of Jammeh's camp.

But they concluded that despite the lack of a level playing field, the victory for Jammeh -- a former wrestler often seen brandishing a Koran and ceremonial sword -- was nonetheless "a reflection of the wish of the people".