Gambia tightens security ahead of UN envoy visit

Gambian authorities have stepped up security measures in and around the capital following a botched coup attempt last week, as the UN's west Africa envoy Mohammed Ibn Chambas is set to visit the country soon.

Soldiers were seen patrolling the streets and conducting checkups at highways in what residents described as efforts to round up the suspects linked to the apparent foiled coup, which was carried out by gunmen led by a former army officer.

The attackers were repelled after an overnight shootout, and the ringleader, Lt Colonel Lamin Sanneh, was reportedly killed. But Gambian authorities believe some of the participants are still at large, residents say.

Dozens of people suspected of involvement in the Tuesday attack, which President Yahya Jammeh blamed on "terrorists" and foreign dissidents, have been arrested, said a military source who requested anonymity.

The arrested, including military personnel and civilians, were being interrogated and held in unidentified locations in and near the capital Banjul, said the source.

The mother and brother of the coup leader Lamin Sanneh were reportedly among those arrested.

In capital Banjul on Saturday, heavily armed troops were posted at key structures, especially in areas surrounding the presidential place, which came under attack in the foiled coup attempt.

Witnesses say a thorough search was being conducted in the capital, with troops and security personnel entering motels and guest houses in search of suspects.

The country's main referral hospital, Edward Francis Small Teaching Hospital, was closed from visitors while a search was conducted.

"We were surprised to see the armed security personnel searching the entire hospital in and out," said one of the hospital staff, who requested anonymity.

UN Chief Ban Ki-moon's special representative for West Africa, Mohammed Ibn Chambas, will visit Gambia soon in a fact-finding mission.

The visit is to ensure the peace and stability of West African nation in light of a conflict with Gambian dissidents, an anonymous Gambian source told Xinhua Saturday.

Chambas is expected to hold talks with Gambian government officials, and report back to the UN Security Council on his findings.

Following Tuesday's coup attempt in Gambia, the UN Security Council held a meeting on Wednesday and condemned the "attempted coup d'etat against legal institutions."

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