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- Jan 30, 2008
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Gambia cut ties with Iran and order diplomats to leave
The Gambian and Iranian presidents have enjoyed close ties in recent years
The Gambia has said it is cutting all ties with Iran and ordered all Iranian government representatives to leave within 48 hours.The Gambian and Iranian presidents have enjoyed close ties in recent years
The two countries, both of which have faced criticism over their human rights records, have had fairly close ties.
Officials from the small West African nation gave no reason for the move.
But last month Nigeria said it had intercepted an illegal arms shipment in Lagos from Iran, apparently destined for The Gambia.
The Nigerian authorities discovered the weapons, including rocket launchers and grenades, in containers labelled as building materials.
The France-based shipping company CMA CGM which transported the shipment said it was hidden in containers and attempts were made to send it to The Gambia before the Nigerian police seized it.
Nigeria has reported the seizure to the UN Security Council.
Iran is under UN sanctions because of its nuclear programme and is banned from supplying, selling or transferring arms.
"All government of The Gambia projects and programmes, which were [being] implemented in co-operation with the government of the Islamic Republic of Iran, have been cancelled," the Gambian foreign ministry said in a statement.
BBC News - Gambia cut ties with Iran and order diplomats to leave