"[Ban] reiterates the United Nations principled condemnation of all attempts to seize power through unconstitutional means … he calls for all parties to exercise restraint and to refrain from further violence," a statement published on the United Nation's website.
According to the statement, Ban urged for the establishment of a transparent investigation into the reported attempted coup, and will closely follow the developments in Gambia.
On Tuesday, heavy gunfire took place at the country's presidential palace in the capital city of Banjul, in what was reported as an attempted coup. However, the details remain unclear.
According to local media, four people were killed during the gunfire, including former head of the presidential guards Lamin Anneh, believed to be the leader of the attempted coup.
President Jammeh himself seized power in a military coup in 1994, then became president in 1996. He has since stayed in power in elections that have been criticized as manipulated.
