Gambia's president concedes defeat after election loss

BANJUL — Gambia President Yahya Jammeh has congratulated opposition coalition leader Adama Barrow, who won the most votes in an election that will remove Jammeh from power after 22 years.

Speaking on state television yesterday night, Jammeh praised the election and vowed not to contest the result.

The election commission had earlier declared Barrow the newly elected president, a stunning outcome in a country where critics have long alleged votes are rigged and opponents jailed.

The commission said Barrow received 45 percent of the vote compared to Jammeh's 36 percent.