DEFENCE CHIEF PLEDGES ALLEGIANCE TO NEW PRESIDENT

BANJUL The chief of Gambia’s defence forces pledged his allegiance Friday to the new president, while the leaders of Guinea and Mauritania tried to persuade the defeated one to cede power in the West African nation.

A regional military force awaited orders to roll into the capital and force Yahya Jammeh from the office he held for 22 years.

Adama Barrow, pictured, who was elected president last month, was sworn in Thursday, and the UN Security Council voted unanimously to approve the regional military intervention. The inauguration took place at the Gambian Embassy in neighbouring Senegal for Barrow’s safety.

Defence forces chief Ousman Badjie told The Associated Press that Gambia’s security services all support Barrow and would not fight the regional force that was poised to push out Jammeh if talks failed.