Updated

The government of tiny Gambia says it wants the Libyan ambassador loyal to Moammar Gadhafi to leave and is declaring its support for the Benghazi-based rebel council.

A government statement Friday gave the Libyan ambassador and embassy staff 72 hours to leave Gambia. The government also says it's freezing or closing all assets held in Gambia by Gadhafi's government.

Those include two five-star hotels and an amusement park, and represent a large investment in the West African nation that is surrounded by Senegal.

Gambia says its decision was prompted by "the heinous atrocities that are being carried out by the Gadhafi regime against innocent citizens."

Libya's embassy in Banjul declined comment.