Cheers as Gambia's new president Adama Barrow arrives home

The new president of The Gambia, who was unable to take up his post because the incumbent refused to leave office, has been widely cheered as he arrived in the country.

Adama Barrow, a former security guard at Argos, returned to the capital Banjul nearly two months after winning an election.

His predecessor Yahya Jammeh disputed the result and said he would not stand down, bringing the country to the brink of military intervention.

But, on Thursday, as Mr Barrow's open top car weaved its way into the city at sunset, people shouted "Barrow! Barrow!", women danced on minibuses and drums were beaten in the street.

"I am a happy man today," he said. "I think the bad part is finished now."

He said his next task was to get his cabinet in place and "then get the ball rolling".

Mr Jammeh, who had been in power for 22 years, has been accused of emptying the country's banks of 500m Gambian dalasis (£9.2m) in the last two weeks of his reign.

Mai Ahmed Fatty, a special adviser to President Barrow, said: "The coffers are virtually empty."

The outgoing president flew by jet into exile in Guinea as troops from Senegal, backed by a coalition of African nations, were spotted moving towards the border to take up positions.

The threat of violence in the country had forced the UK's Foreign Office to change its travel advice, leaving nearly 1,000 British tourists no choice but to fly home.

Mr Barrow, who studied in Britain and worked at Argos to pay his fees, was sworn at The Gambian mission in the Senegalese capital Dakar.

He has promised to reverse many of the authoritarian policies of Mr Jammeh, who was accused of imprisoning, torturing and killing his political opponents.

The 51-yer-old Mr Barrow is proud of his links to Britain, remaining a keen Arsenal fan and promising after his inauguration to make the UK The Gambia's biggest trading partner.

A larger, more formal ceremony to welcome Mr Barrow home is expected to take place at a later date.

About 2,500 troops from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) remain in Banjul, as well as at the port, airport, and at key crossing points between Gambia and Senegal.

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