File photo shows Gambian President Yahya Jammeh adjust earpiece at the 11th Ordinary Session of the Assembly of the African Union (AU) in Egypt, June 30, 2008. (Xinhua/Zhang Ning)

BANJUL, Dec. 10 (Xinhua) -- Gambian President Yahya Jammeh, who had previously conceded his defeat in last week's presidential election, announced on state television Friday night he has decided not to accept the results.

Jammeh insisted that there were discrepancies in the Dec. 1 vote count, in which opposition coalition candidate Adama Barrow was declared winner.

In his statement, he said the electoral commission had made mistakes and investigations showed a large number of voters were unaccounted for. He also questioned alleged irregularities in voter registration.

The president called for a new election, which immediately met condemnation from right activists.

"It's time that Yahya Jammeh acts in accordance with the rule of law and steps down from power, peacefully and with dignity," said Jeffrey Smith, executive director of Vanguard Africa.

Jammeh had previously won praise for conceding defeat on Dec. 2, when he also congratulated Barrow, whose victory appeared to end a 22-year rule by Jammeh.

Alieu Momarr Njai, head of Gambia's electoral commission, announced on Dec. 2 that Barrow won the election with 45.5 percent of the votes. Njai noted last week that it was a rare moment in Gambian politics, in which Jammeh accepted defeat.

Last week, over 40 political prisoners in the Gambia were released from the prison and were welcomed by thousands of Gambians in the streets.