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Latest update: 12/01/2011
- elections - Ivory Coast - Laurent Gbagbo
Pro-Gbagbo police killed in clashes with Ouattara supporters
At least five policemen were killed in Abidjan on Wednesday, a day after four people died in clashes between supporters of rival presidential candidates Alassane Ouattara and incumbent Laurent Gbagbo.
By News Wires (text)
REUTERS - At least five policemen were killed in Abidjan early on Wednesday in a second day of fighting as security forces loyal to Ivory Coast leader Laurent Gbagbo clashed with backers of rival Alassane Ouattara, witnesses said.
Witnesses said sustained gunfire and what sounded like explosions from heavier weapons rang out for several hours from across the pro-Ouattara neighbourhood of Abobo, a day after clashes there killed at least five people, three of them members
of the security forces.
The world's top cocoa producer has been in turmoil since a Nov. 28 presidential election that both Ouattara and Gbagbo claim to have won.
"There was heavy firing and explosions from around 2 a.m. I and my family are terrified. We couldn't sleep at all," said witness Adama Toure, who lives in Abobo.
Mamadou Kante, also an Abobo resident, said he saw four police vehicles burned, with at least four bodies of policemen inside near Abobo town hall. A source in Ivorian military intelligence, who could not be named, confirmed that four vehicles had been burned and four police died inside them.
The source gave no further details.
Another witness in a different area, Abdoulaye Cisse, said: "I've never heard such loud weapons firing here. From the bottom of my apartment, I saw the body of one policeman."
Ouattara was proclaimed victor by the electoral commission and has been recognised by world leaders, but Gbagbo, who has ruled the country for a decade, retains control of the military and police. The standoff risks rekindling a 2002-3 civil war that divided the country in two.
Violence has led to the deaths of more than 200 people since the poll, and fears of further conflict have prompted more than 20,000 people to flee into neighbouring Liberia, according to U.N. figures.
The United Nations says many among the dead were killed by pro-Gbagbo security forces or allied militias in regular nighttime raids on neighbourhoods, like Abobo, that are seen as pro-Ouattara. Hundreds of other people may have been abducted and taken to secret detention centres, U.N. officials fear.
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Comments (8)
Why Africa
African let us keep focus and forget about UN and America to give us support because they will never help us. We can help ourself.
Ivory coast
I cannot understand is that the call by rhe president supported by the UN for a General Strike had no following
Democracy is greater than laws
The legitimate ECOWAS military force intervention in Ivory Coast is possible. One thing everyone need to understand the meaning of democracy. Democracy is the government of the people by the people and for the people; so the goodwill of the people is more greater than the laws, arrogance, excessive lies and fib words. Using a rigid hard core democracy to establish neocolonialism cannot work when there's tribe's discrimination among the citizen. People of this country must learn that resentment shall only cause bitterness through violence,. Also, every tribe must acknowledge that they are one family for the restoration of love and peace.
ic conflict
the both rivals have equal strength. Following the example of Kenya, Gbagbo should remain President and Wattara the Prime Minister. This is an advice from someone who like so much Alpha Blondy. "C'est Seuls les imbeciles qui ne changent pas". This will remove the burden on 20 million of Ivory Cost population
Peace and unity
I live in Côte D’ ivoire, to bring peace in that country is to removed gbagbo and Ouattara.due to the two has create bad record in the history of the country, and also has bad records in the country, Another candidate is in position to bring peace in Côte’d’Ivoire. I am not and citizens of Côte’d Ivoire but I am residence in the country. The best thing is to terminate two of them from the country to avoid peace in côte’Divoire.
la paix
I propose that Ouattara hails anbandonne por cest because if they do force yourra MILLIERES many of these deaths and a problem for thank you luis
Go Gbagbo
Gbagbo DID NOT WINE THE ELECTION HEKNOW VERY WELL AND WHY ECOWAS DELAYING THE ISSU WHY UN WHY EU why AU
YOU PEOPLE WONT THE MASSES TO BE KILL EVERY DAY BY Pro-Gbagbo FORCE WHY DELAY
No Gbagbo no ADO
Neither Ouattara nor Gbagbo can bring peace back to IC. They're both and equally responsible for the issues of this country. Out of the 20 Millions Ivorians, I am sure there must be at least ONE person not involved with bribes, murders and rebellion that could bring back unity, peace and economic growth.
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