Tourist exodus

Thousands of Western holidaymakers were being evacuated from Gambia as West African troops massed on the border to topple the country’s resident dictator. The exodus took place as several hundred troops from neighbouring Senegal gathered on the Gambian border, with instructions to remove Gambia’s president, Yahyah Jammeh, by force. Jammeh, who is one Africa’s most feared strongmen, reneged on a pledge to leave power after losing elections in December.