US denies any role in Gambia violence

The United States denied it had any role in an apparent coup attempt in The Gambia, after the African nation's leader Yahya Jammeh blamed the attack on foreign dissidents.

"The US government had no role in the events that took place in Banjul," a US State Department official said.

"The United States strongly condemns any attempt to seize power through extra-constitutional means."

The US denied it had any role in an apparent coup attempt in The Gambia, after the African nation's leader Yahya Jammeh, shown in a file picture, blamed the attack on foreign dissidents ©Seyllou (AFP/File)

Jammeh, who was visiting Dubai at the time of Tuesday's attack, blamed foreign dissidents and "terrorists" for the assault on his presidential palace. He denied it was an attempt to unseat him.

"It is an attack by dissidents based in the US, Germany and UK," Jammeh said.

"This was not a coup. This was an attack by a terrorist group backed by some powers that I would not name."

A group of heavily armed men led by an army deserter attacked the presidential palace but were repelled by forces loyal to Jammeh.

The State Department said the US embassy in Banjul would be open Friday.