The UN says that the Gambian government has denied full access to two experts who were supposed to investigate reports of extrajudicial executions and torture of government opponents, journalists and activists.
The government had agreed to allow the experts into The Gambia after increased concerns over its human rights situation, however the UN investigators were prevented from visiting the death row of the Banjul prison.
Special investigator, Christof Heyns, said in a statement that "an inference must be drawn that there is something important to hide".
Both investigators said that, during their visit in November, they "received many reports that there are paramilitary hit squads in the country", the BBC reported.
The final report by the investigators is due to be presented at the UN Human Rights Council in March next year.