Gambia's President Jammeh asked to reject anti-gay law

Leading rights groups have called on Gambian President Yahya Jammeh not to approve tough new anti-gay legislation.

Homosexual acts are already illegal in The Gambia, but MPs passed a bill on 25 August imposing life sentences for "aggravated homosexuality".

The bill promoted "state-sponsored homophobia", the rights groups said.

Mr Jammeh is known for his strong opposition to gay rights. He has called gay people "vermin" and once threatened to behead them.

Uganda's Constitutional Court struck down a similar law last month on the grounds that it was passed by MPs without a quorum.