Gambia's Jammeh accuses UK of backing opposition

BANJUL (Reuters) - Gambian President Yahya Jammeh accused former colonial ruler Britain on Wednesday of backing opposition politicians ahead of 2011 elections, and said the West African nation would not be colonised again.

Jammeh has long been criticised for arresting dissenters, rights activists and journalists. Earlier this month a Gambian court sentenced eight people to death after finding them guilty of plotting to overthrow the government.

In April, the United States and Britain criticised the jailing of an opposition member for using a megaphone at a rally without permission.

"Why are they (the West) not sponsoring the ruling government if they are talking about democracy?" Jammeh said at a rally with thousands of supporters in Banjul, the capital.

Jammeh accused Britain of funding the opposition, but said the opposition would "never" secure a ministerial post because Gambians were not fools.

"I swear that the Gambia will not be colonised twice. Let them do whatever they want to do, but this country will not be colonised twice," Jammeh said.

The British High Commissioner in Banjul could not be reached for comment.

Jammeh, who has ruled the tiny nation sandwiched inside Senegal with an iron fist since a 1994 coup, is due to face elections next year. There are four opposition parties but they complain about harassment and in the last election in 2006 Jammeh won about 70 percent of the vote.

The eight handed death sentences earlier this month included the former chief of defence staff, former director of the national intelligence agency and two businessmen, one of whom is Lebanese.