BANJUL, Sept 26 (AFP) - Campaigning officially started in Gambia
on Wednesday for a presidential election on October 18 when four
candidates will challenge President Yahya Jammeh for his job in the
west African country.

Apart from the head of state, who is standing as candidate of
the Alliance for Patriotic Reorientation and Construction (APRC),
the contenders are:
- Sherriff Mustapha Dibba (National Convention Party)
- Hamat Bah (National Reconciliation Party)
- Sidia Jatta (People's Democratic Organisation for Independence
and Socialism)
- Ousainou Darboe, running for a coalition of three opposition
movements, including his own United Democratic Party.
Before October 16, when the campaign officially ends, the
candidates and their aides plan to hold meetings in the seven
regions of the former British colony stretching along the Gambia
River.

The electoral commission has ruled that each candidate should be
given five minutes' airtime a day on national radio and television,
while the state media will also allocate identical coverage time to
each of the party's rallies.

Jammeh on Tuesday spoke out at an APRC rally against foes who
had called his nationality into question and claimed he came from
the neighbouring Casamance region of southern Senegal.
The head of state urged them to concentrate on their political
platforms rather than stir up allegations concerning citizenship.
Jammeh came to power in a coup in July 1994 and was elected head
of state in September 1996.

*****
Culled from:
clari.world.gov.politics,clari.world.africa.western,clari.world.mideast+africa
Nwesgroups

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