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Latest update: 22/12/2010
- civil war - France - Guillaume Soro - Ivory Coast - Laurent Gbagbo - sanctions - World Bank
'Force is the only option,' says senior Ivorian leader
In an interview with FRANCE 24 Wednesday, Ivorian presidential claimant Alassane Ouattara's PM Guillaume Soro said he was sceptical of sanctions and called on the international community to use force to oust incumbent President Laurent Gbagbo.
Ivory Coast’s presidential claimant Alassane Ouattara's prime minister called on the international community to use force to oust incumbent President Laurent Gbagbo from power in an interview with FRANCE 24 Wednesday.
Guillaume Soro, a former rebel leader and Ouattara’s chosen prime minister, told FRANCE 24 he was sceptical of international sanctions and maintained that “force was the only solution”.
Soro’s comments came hours after France joined a list of countries urging their citizens to leave the West African nation as violence following the disputed Nov. 28 presidential run-off has mounted.
Both Gbagbo and Ouattara claim they won the poll and have sworn in respective cabinets. While the international community has recognised Ouattara as the rightful winner and called on Gbagbo to cede power, the incumbent Ivorian president has refused to give up the presidency.
In a phone interview with FRANCE 24 Wednesday from the main Ivorian city of Abidjan, Soro once again called for Gbagbo to step down.
“Laurent Gbagbo is no longer the president. He was defeated,” said Soro. “We continue to call on him to cede power. For the moment, I have asked the UN Security Council, the European Union, the African Union and (West African regional grouping) ECOWAS to contemplate the option of using military force to remove Laurent Gbagbo from power.”
Soro served as prime minister under Gbagbo from 2007 until he resigned from the post following the disputed Nov. 28 presidential run-off, after which he was promptly sworn in as Ouattara’s prime minister. A former leader of the New Forces rebel group, Soro took up the prime ministerial post in 2007 under the terms of a peace deal between Gbagbo’s government and the northern rebels.
France tells nationals to quit Ivory Coast - 'temporarily'
Soro’s call on the international community to use force came hours after France asked its citizens to leave Ivory Coast and the World Bank froze funding to the West African state.
"We ask those who can to leave Ivory Coast temporarily until the situation normalises," French government spokesman Francois Baroin told reporters in Paris Wednesday.
There are currently about 13,000 French nationals in the former French colony.
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At least 50 people have been killed in post-election violence since the run-off vote, according to the UN. However, Ouattara supporters say the death toll is much higher and accuse armed groups loyal to Gbagbo of targeting them in Abidjan.
Meanwhile, World Bank head Robert Zoellick said funds for Ivory Coast had been frozen. Ivory Coast had secured $465 million under a 2009-2013 World Bank programme.
"They have already been frozen," Zoellick told reporters in Paris following a Wednesday meeting with French President Nicolas Sarkozy.
On Tuesday, the US State Department authorised a travel ban against Gbagbo’s administration. The European Union had earlier issued a travel ban on Gbagbo and his close supporters.
Gbagbo calls for international review of electoral crisis
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Despite the increased international pressure on his administration, Gbagbo has remained defiant.
In his first televised speech since the disputed Nov. 28 presidential run-off, Gbagbo called for an international panel to review the post-election power struggle over the presidency in a Tuesday night address to the nation.
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(9) Reactions
greediness of power
who the cap fit let him wear it.African leaders stop the dream of holding guns against your brothers and sisters.Always accept defeat.Always remember when two elephants fight only the grass will surfer.Who are..the innocent citizen.GOD save the world.from the rulers with evil intension against their people
power
Its amazing "african leaders" have made power the only means to get rich, rather than using power to help alliviate poverty and help make lifes better for others. However it still beats my imagination that the so called african leaders like that of ivory coast abuse power to amass riches for themselves at the expense of the masses, who are suffering and cant even affoard a squar meal a day. May the living God be our helper and save our fellow brothers in ivory coast from these selfish leaders.
We need peace
The first mistake of Alassane Ouattara is the nomination of Guillaume Soro former rebel leader as his premier minister. We also have to note that the rebellion still exists in the northern part and Guillaume Soro is still part of this group. Nominating Guillaume Soro as premier minister indicates that Alassane Ouattara is not impartial and that is a big mistake. If we are seeking a peaceful Cote d’Ivoire all the political larders should be neutral and treat both sides equally. We are sick of the bloodshed in all part of Africa. Where our leaders get their education? Our leaders need to be critical thinkers and work for the prosperity of their country, the continent of Africa and be full participant on this global economy. Please stop!
Only Lawful Force - Anything else is Coup d'Etat
On what legal basis should force be used to remove a countries President? The UN have no international law which permits this. So what does that make Ouattera? It makes him a sore loser trying to run a coup d'Etat. He lost teh caase before teh constitutional Court just like Al Gore lost the case before the US Supreme Court. But did Al Gore seek military intervention from the UN and Canada to remove George Bush. No.
Democracy is more than having corrupt friends in foreign banks who can turn off the tap on your country.
suggestion
I plead with the United Nations to capture Gbagbo and kill him as an example to some of the African leaders who are power drunk to save innocent lives.
BAD LEADER
i wonder what d internationl community are doing i think the erra of sharing power in a disputed election to creat peace is over eg kenya and zimbabwe.Is onlt the kenya PM that is speaking though against other leader are not gbagbo should be force out of power before 2011
No other options
The rebel leader Laurent Gbagbo is adamant and will never leave the seat of power, even if he has to kill the entire Ivorian population.International community should help the suffering people of Cote d'Ivoire by removing this monster.Ivorians have been suffering for 11 years in the hands of these merceneries
If the force is not apllied
If the force is not apllied on time people would still loss their lives and if it is applied on time the casualty may be less and the situation would be solved. Too much prolonging gives room for more factions. Use the Liberian situation as an example.
read this
Iam a nigeria leaving in cote divore,Mr.GBAGBO armey loyal to him are killing those supporting the opposition everyday by day just becuase they have the power.pls i want ecowas to send they militray force to protect the civil to avoid losing soul