Gambia withdraws from the Commonwealth group

The Gambian government has announced that the former British colony is pulling out of the Commonwealth with immediate effect.Gambian President said: "Gambia will never be a member of any neo-colonial institution and will never be a party to any institution that represents an extension of colonialism"

Mr Jammeh, who is regularly accused of rights abuses, has ruled mainland Africa's smallest country with an iron fist since seizing power in a 1994 coup. He accused Britain of backing Gambia's political opposition ahead of the 2011 elections. Now 53 members are left.