Gambian President Yahya Jammeh vowed to stay in power when his mandate ends in January, defying calls from West African leaders to hand over to the winner of a December 1 election. Regional bloc ECOWAS hopes diplomacy can persuade Jammeh to step down but has also warned it would take “all necessary actions” to resolve the impasse. Neighboring Senegal indicated that military action would be a last resort. “My right cannot be intimidated and violated,” Jammeh, who took power in a 1994 coup, said on state television late on Tuesday. Jammeh’s rebuff places president-elect Adama Barrow in a vulnerable position. He is due to formally end his rival’s 22-year rule when he is inaugurated on January 19 in a ceremony that West African leaders say they will attend.