The Unites States has suspended Gambia from a key development fund, because of what it describes as a decline in democracy and worsening economic policies.

The Millennium Challenge Corporation said the decision was based on a host of factors, including documented evidence of human rights abuses, increased restrictions on political rights and civil liberties, and the slow pace of anti-corruption efforts.

The corporation's board said Friday that conditions in Gambia were deteriorating in half of the categories it uses to evaluate candidate countries.

Gambia was chosen last November to be eligible for U.S. development aid. A decision had not yet been made about how much money to grant the west African country.