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Mahama off to Gambia for Jammeh mediation talks

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President John Dramani Mahama will today, Tuesday, December 13, join other regional leaders to Banjul to hold talks with The Gambias leader Yahya Jammeh in a move to put diplomatic pressure on him to transfer power to President-elect

A week after conceding defeat, Jammeh on Friday declared he no longer accepted the results of the December 1 vote, upending hopes for a peaceful political transition after his 22 years in power.

READ ALSO: Akufo-Addo slams Yahya Jammeh's refusal to...

In a speech broadcast late Friday, Jammeh, 51, cited "unacceptable errors" by election authorities and called for new polls.

"In the same way that I accepted the results faithfully believing that the Independent Electoral Commission was independent and honest and reliable, I hereby reject the results in totality," he said.

"Let me repeat: I will not accept the results based on what has happened," he added.

READ MORE: Gambian leader's election defiance sparks global concern

Jammeh pointed to that polling error, claiming that numerous voters had not been able to cast their ballots.

"We will go back to the polls because I want to make sure every Gambian votes under an electoral commission that is impartial, independent, neutral and free from foreign influence," he said.

The UN Security Council has unanimously demanded he hand over power, and "strongly condemned" his action.

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