The Ivorian president, Laurent Gbagbo, last evening flew into Banjul on a "few days private visit".

On arrival at the Banjul International Airport, President Gbagbo was received at the foot of the aircraft by the vice-president, Aja Dr Isatou Njie-Saidy; the speaker of the National Assembly, Fatoumata Jahumpa-Ceesay; the chief justice, Abdoul Karim Savage and secretaries of state.

The Ivorian leader told reporters that Africa is blessed with all it takes to make a good holiday, noting that since becoming president, he had never spent his holiday outside the continent.

"It is either in Ivory Coast or in other parts of Africa," said Gbagbo, adding that with the sun, the sea, and all other natural features, it's better to be "here [in Africa] than to go to Europe or somewhere else".