Britain regrets Gambia's exit from Commonwealth

Britain regrets Gambia's withdrawal from the Commonwealth of Nations, a British official said.

"The Commonwealth family brings together almost a third of the world's population to promote peace, prosperity and improve the lives of all peoples of the Commonwealth," the Foreign and Commonwealth Office said in a statement.

"It is unfortunate that Gambia's voice will no longer be heard in this forum," the statement added.

Gambia has accused Britain and the US of organizing coup attempts and financing the opposition since President Yahya Jammeh took power July 22, 1994.

Last week, Gambia announced its withdrawal from the Commonwealth of Nations, which is composed largely of former British colonies, saying that it would "never be a member of any neo-colonial institution".