Gambian president lifts political party ban

The President of the Gambia, Yahya Jammeh, has lifted a ban on political parties and politicians from the regime he toppled in a coup in 1994.

New opposition parties were formed before the 1996 presidential election which Mr Jammeh won.

The lifting of the ban means these parties will be able to challenge the president in the forthcomming presidential election in the Gambia, scheduled for October.

But President Jammeh warned his opponents against making trouble.

He told a rally in the capital, Banjul, that anyone trying to undermine the state would end up dead.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service