SOURCE:BBC NETWORK  AFRICA

Anger at Gambia poll head sacking

President Jammeh took power in a coup and won elections in 2001

The Gambia's opposition has criticised the government's decision to sack the independent electoral commission head.

No reason has been given for the dismissal, weeks before elections.

Opposition leader Halifa Sallah told the BBC that the move confirmed what he called the commission's lack of independence and impartiality.

Tension has been rising ahead of September's polls in which President Yahya Jammeh is seeking to extend his 12 years in power.

The sacking of Ndondi Njai comes in the wake of heavy criticism of the election process by the opposition National Alliance for Democracy and Development (Nadd).

But Nadd leader Mr Sallah said the president should not have the power to intervene in the electoral commission "and remove them at will".

"Clearly it is creating more uncertainty and at this particular stage we believe the electoral officers will become more frightened," he told the BBC's Network Africa programme.

"This clearly undermines the spirit of the independence and impartiality of the independent electoral commission."

President Jammeh seized power in a 1994 coup and won a second term in 2001.