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Gambia News : Gambian leader voices support for Taiwan's UN bid

"Gambia speaks out for Taiwan, which has been excluded from the UN, as the 23 million Taiwanese people deserve to be recognised as a formal member of the UN," a presidential statement here quoted Jammeh as saying.

Taiwan, under its official name the Republic of China, lost its UN seat to China in 1971.

Its efforts to rejoin using its official title have been repeatedly blocked by rival Beijing and an application this year for membership using the name Taiwan also failed.

The Gambian leader also pledged to maintain ties with the diplomatically isolated Taiwan.

"Gambia will never betray Taiwan because humanitarian spirits are more important than financial aids ... Gambia is a country with dignity and it will keep its promise not to abandon Taiwan," he said.

Gambia is one of five African countries in a group of 24 nations formally recognising Taipei over Beijing.

Africa is a diplomatic battleground for Taipei and Beijing, which have accused each other of using money to lure the other's allies under so-called "chequebook diplomacy."

China regards Taiwan as part of its territory awaiting reunification, if necessary by force, despite their split in 1949 after a civil war.