UN boss slams Gambian election troubles

United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has condemned the takeover of Gambia's elections commission headquarters by soldiers and called for them to vacate the building immediately, a spokesman says.

"He condemns this outrageous act of disrespect of the will of the Gambian people and defiance towards the international community at a time when a high-level ... delegation was in the country to broker a peaceful transfer of power," UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric said in a statement on Wednesday

The United Nations Special Representative for West Africa also said on Wednesday that Gambia's President Yahya Jammeh would be "strongly sanctioned" if he sought to remain in power after his mandate ends on January 19.

"For Mr Jammeh, the end is here and under no circumstances can he continue to be president," Mohammed Ibn Chambas told Reuters by telephone.

Jammeh lost elections on December 1 and, despite initially accepting the outcome, has since changed his mind and is challenging the outcome at Gambia's Supreme Court.