Gambian president claims he can cure Aids

The president of Gambia has claimed the personal ability to cure HIV-Aids within three days.

Yahya Jammeh, who has no medical training but boasts an "extensive knowledge of traditional herbal therapy", said that he would personally cure Gambians struck down by the epidemic after announcing what would be one of the great breakthroughs in medical science, if true.

"I am not a witch-doctor," said Mr Jammeh, who seized power in the tiny West African country in a coup 12 years ago. "In fact, you cannot have witch-doctor. You are either a witch or a doctor."

Mr Jammeh, 41, has not disclosed any details about his alleged cure, save that it involves African herbs. After this treatment, an HIV positive patient will, he says, test negative after three days.

Gambia's health minister, Tamsir Mbow, enthusiastically endorsed this claim. "We cannot actually tell you the type of herbs we are using presently. It will be known to the whole world later," he told the BBC.