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Latest update: 18/12/2010
- Alassane Ouattara - demonstrations - Ivory Coast - Laurent Gbagbo
World leaders pile pressure on Gbagbo to step down
As Ivory Coast’s leadership crisis drags on, world leaders, led by the UN, the EU and French President Nicolas Sarkozy, called on Ivorian incumbent president Laurent Gbagbo to admit defeat before the end of the weekend.
Incumbent Ivorian President Laurent Gbagbo must admit defeat and quit his post following last month’s disputed presidential election, UN chief Ban Ki-moon said on Friday.
The call came as the EU and France threatened to impose more sanctions and urged army chiefs in the West African country to defect to Alassane Ouattara, whom the international community overwhelmingly recognises as the legitimate president.
“There was a clear winner. There is no other option," Ban Ki-Moon told reporters in New
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York. “The efforts of Laurent Gbagbo and his supporters to retain power and flout the public will cannot be allowed to stand. The international community must send this message - loud and clear. Any other outcome would make a mockery of democracy and the rule of law.”
Meanwhile, a statement published at the end of an EU summit “called on all Ivorian leaders, both civilian and military who have not yet done so, to place themselves under the authority of the democratically elected president, Mr Alassane Ouattara.”
Nicolas Sarkozy, president of France, Ivory Coast’s former colonial ruler, gave Gbagbo 48 hours to step down.
Nicolas Sarkozy, president of France, Ivory Coast’s former colonial ruler, gave Gbagbo 48 hours to step down.
“If, by the end of the week, he, Laurent Gbagbo - and his wife - has not left the post he is occupying in violation of the will of the Ivorian people, they will be added by name on the list of sanctions,” he warned.
“There is no other possibility than for Gbagbo to leave as soon as possible an office he usurped,” Sarkozy added.
Deadly violence
Ivory Coast’s economic capital Abidjan was a “ghost town” on Friday following clashes between troops loyal to the rival presidential contenders on Thursday.
At least 30 people were killed during the day as former rebels loyal to Ouattara's Prime Minister Guillaume Soro fought fierce gun battles with Gbagbo's government security forces in the sky scraper-lined city.
It was the first major outbreak of deadly violence since the November 28 presidential run-off.
On Friday the tension remains high although there have been so far no reports of fighting in the city.
“Abidjan is a ghost town,” said FRANCE 24’s Cyril Vanier, reporting from Ivory Coast. “The shops are closed and very few people are venturing out into the streets.
“The army controls all routes leading in and out of Ouattara strongholds. The situation remains very tense.”
In the wake of the disputed results, both Gbagbo and Ouattara have sworn themselves into office and appointed cabinets.
Another African emissary in town for talks
The West African nation has been in crisis since the Nov. 28 run-off. The political stalemate has ground economic activity in the world’s largest cocoa-growing nation to a halt.
In the latest attempt to resolve the situation, Jean Ping, chairman of the African Union
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Commission, is set to hold talks with Gbagbo and Ouattara in Abidjan on Friday.
Ping’s visit follows earlier mediation efforts by former South African President Thabo Mbeki, who failed to broker a resolution.
The AU - and the international community – is facing difficulties in trying to get Gbagbo to step down.
“It’s not clear what specific bargaining chip, if any, John Ping has when he begins his negotiations,” said Vanier.
Following Thursday’s violence, the US warned Gbagbo that he has “limited time” to cede power to his rival Ouattara.
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Comments (11)
UN,EU,AU,and ECWAS ask Gbagbo to stepdown.
Hi Oliver,
The word leaders ask gbagbo to stepdown in order to for the democratically elected president Ouattara to resume power.
Abe
the world politics
the world have to unite strongly and fight life aminations with the demokaratics anemys around the world.
why enosent people are paying this prices.now is have to be a new world order.new politic 100%power to the people.
if we are going to live in a decent and better world.we gona have to change the way we think and rule our countrys.
today again here we are talking about lack of demokaratic and humanright.by this arogant regims.
Israel dont want see plastinians a life.and the world know this but they say nothing.we want justice beween plastinians and Israels.is for the benefict of the next generations.
Ivory Caost what the world waiting for. to put the right man in the place.is for the the people not for the politisians.
never kill 1000 people just for the seck of one man.
ONE WORLD ONE HEART ONE LOVE.
TRUST YOUR HEART LIVE AND DIE FOR THE TRUTH
Gbagbo should step down and accept defat
Uche Otu Nne gi, Let Gbagbo or whatever he is called accept defeat and step down. No champion forever. That sit is turn by turn not his father's birth right. Please call a sped a sped. Do you think that Nigerian government and western worlds are fools. They are watching and are much aware that Gbagbo lost the election. If he fail to step donw. I bet you that Saddam Hussain will better than him.
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thats how dictatorship is, gbagbo lost the eletions and i dont think any thinking human being can tolarat such nonsense.
ask us(Kenyans)
Ivorian's, as u fight for ua rights pliz do not kill ua fellow citizens for what,am talking to the low and medium class and the armed forces.I know the big men dnt fight they just initiate it.today it is 50 death within few days the figure will b so high u wont believe it.pliz pliz pliz pliz ,Learn from Kenyan's mistakes u will b fools to undergo whatever we Kenyan's went through.
shame for african leaders who clinch to power
leave your greed and let africa move forward democrancy.gbagbo you have lost leave ivorians have their choice presdent
reaction to Kenyan President
I think life is very easy when you have no idea of something you shut up your big mouth. Mr kenyan President get informed before talking otherwise you can be considered as a stupid man.
Africa will never move forward with man like you.
Hopefully, Ivory Coast is not your village
GBAGBO AND HIS GOVT
Laurent Gbagbo wanted to try the Western democracy in his country failing to understand that he is an African and he is in Africa.Nevertheless,let the foreign bodies and govts allow the Africans in peace to handle their responsibilities.I believe we are mature enough to take care of ourselves.Also.if they want to send troops there let them send troops of their nationality.That is,France should send purely French troops and the US purely American soldiers and not naturalized Africans to come and fight against their brothers.The UN should not send troops of African origin for like reasons.
LEAVE IN THE NAME OF PEACE
I am a concern African who doesnt want to see my fellow Africans go through another war please Mr Gbagbo stepdown and save the lifes of your citizens
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I have read the article and in the same time i don't know why thought that gbagbo has a complete similarity with my prime minister Sali BERISHA, who is running ALBANIAN people with fraud election after he has theaft the ballot.
But in compering those two leaders i see even a change.
If the real Gbagbo has all the europian union against, our Gbagbo has some of the europian leaders pro, and for this reason we have a similiar situation minus the clashes of the loyal supporteurs in the streets.
oh my god, is time to sweep away all the gbagbo of the word, beginning from the alabanian Gbagbo sali berisha
Something fishy
I would like to raise my concern on the last Election which was held last November in Ivory Coast. Some times I wonder as to why somebody who was clearly defeated by the majority of the peole cling to the position. It is in my opinion lack of authentic governance which the incumbent President committed. This is the problem in Africa when we hid dirty linen in a we don't want the to let others know where the truth is. It is my disappointed not only with Ivorian Government , but the whole African elctions why do we stick to the reality which is self evident?
Something must be done. Look at the situation which is now going out of hand. International community should not only impose sanctions but to topple Ghabgo as soon as possible before people suffer much.Even if it means to use force I agree to that.
It is really too much the cost of an individual to implicate many.
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