The Gambia’s parliament votes to extend President Yahya Jammeh’s term of office for three months

Announcement comes a day after president declares three-month state of emergency

President Yahya Jammeh's mandate was set to end on Thursday (Getty)

The Gambia’s parliament has voted to extend President Yahya Jammeh’s term of office for three months, state television reports.

It comes a day after Mr Jammeh declared a three-month state of emergency as he sought to stay in power despite losing elections in December.

President-elect Adama Barrow has vowed to be sworn in on Thursday, with the backing of the international community.

The extension will take effect immediately.

Mr Jammeh has ruled The Gambia for more than 22 years.

He initially went on state TV to concede his election defeat, only to make a dramatic U-turn a week later.

Mr Jammeh has challenged the election results, citing voting irregularities, and the West African regional bloc known as ECOWAS has threatened to send in troops to make him leave.

Thousands of people have fled the tiny country, including a number of government ministers. Mr Barrow is in neighbouring Senegal for his safety.

Thousands of British holidaymakers are waiting to hear when they will be flown home by Thomas Cook after the Foreign Office warned “the potential for military intervention and civil disturbance is high”.

In response to the president declaring a state of emergency, Steve Cockburn, Amnesty International’s west and central Africa deputy director said: “Respect for human rights must not be a casualty of the current political crisis in The Gambia.

“The declared state of emergency must not be used to crackdown on soldiers, journalists or opposition members for their real of perceived lack of support for the President.”