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Latest update: 21/02/2011
- Alassane Ouattara - Ivory Coast - Laurent Gbagbo - political crisis
Troops kill six as African leaders arrive in Abidjan
At least six people were killed in Ivory Coast’s largest city Abidjan Monday after troops tried to quash protests against incumbent leader Laurent Gbagbo. Earlier, African leaders arrived in the country to tackle the country’s political crisis.
By News Wires (text)
REUTERS - Ivorian troops killed at least six protesters calling on Laurent Gbagbo to step down as leader on Monday, witnesses said, as African presidents charged with resolving Ivory Coast's crisis arrived in Abidjan.
A dispute over the presidential election in November has paralysed the country and led to the deaths of about 300 people.
The election, meant to bring stability after a decade of economic and political stagnation in the world's biggest cocoa-producing country, has instead left it as divided as ever and its economy in disarray.
Alassane Ouattara is widely recognised internationally as the victor but Gbagbo has refused to cede power.
Cocoa exports have dried up, driving futures prices to new highs. International banks have shut down operations.
A source who had access to preparatory talks on Sunday said the African panel would insist that Gbagbo stand down, in return for guarantees, to allow Ouattara to take charge of the west African country in accordance with to U.N.-certified results.
There was no statement from the leaders. Gbagbo has previously rejected similar proposals.
The two rivals have formed opposing, parallel governments, although Ouattara remains restricted to a lagoon-side hotel protected by a ring of U.N. peacekeepers.
Ouattara's government has called for an Egyptian-style revolution to remove Gbagbo but attempts to demonstrate have been thwarted by security forces. Residents reported gunfire all morning in pro-Ouattara neighbourhoods of Abidjan, the commercial capital, as soldiers and paramilitaries broke up attempted demonstrations.
In the Koumassi district, residents said soldiers fired on protesters from machineguns mounted on military vehicles. At least three demonstrators were killed, said Koumassi resident Djate Traore, who reported seeing the bodies.
Three people were killed and 14 wounded in the city's Treichville neighbourhood, an official at the mayor's office who asked not to be identified told Reuters by telephone, adding he saw the dead and helped evacuate the wounded to a clinic.
There was no immediate comment from the military.
Panel in agreement
Similar attempts to demonstrate at the weekend were crushed by pro-Gbagbo forces, who witnesses said killed at least five people when they opened fire on attempted gatherings.
Army spokesman Babri Gohourou told state television at least four soldiers or police officers had been lynched by protesters recently, three of them killed by having their throats cut.
The army extended an overnight curfew imposed at the weekend until Thursday. Ouattara's camp said protests would continue.
"The Ivorian people will rise up against Gbagbo, because it can no longer accept that an imposter stays in power," his ambassador to France Ally Coulibaly told Le Parisien newspaper.
"The people eventually get the better of all dictators, even the most impregnable."
The leaders of South Africa, Mauritania, Chad, Burkina Faso and Tanzania met in Mauritania on Sunday to discuss proposals drafted by African Union experts.
"We could not go back on the previous decision made by the AU commission" which recognised Ouattara as winner of the election, said the source familiar with the talks who asked not to be identified.
"It was considered that the two candidates could not co-exist, so a transfer of power with guarantees to the losing party was favoured ... The high-level panel agreed on the path to be chosen but there are still many details to work out."
Burkina Faso's President Blaise Compaore did not travel to Ivory Coast but the remaining four began their visit in the country by meeting Gbagbo before they were due to see Ouattara.
Citing the "rapid deterioration of the financial sector", SIB, part of the Moroccan Attijariwafa Group, on Monday became the latest international bank to suspend operations.
Finance Ministry sources said Gbagbo officials were due to meet pro-Gbagbo staff in the Ivorian branches of Societe Generale and BNP Paribas, with a view to re-opening them as nationalised banks on Tuesday.
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(3) Reactions
The Ivorian problem has
The Ivorian problem has proven again that in Africa it is the politician's tribe that comes first and not the country. What a shame.Sooner or later Gbagbo and his tribe men will be arrested and judged
What you need to know
The role of the UN is not to proclame election results in in Ivory Coast. This journalist is just another imperialist. Please Keep in mind that Ivory Coast is souvereign and nobody can overrule the decision of the supprem court of Ivory Coast. No foreign country is above the Ivory constitution. Gbagbo will stay in power like it or not.
Adequate Solution from London
To update this political situation the unique solution is to get the PR unpowered avoid gravity stay out the Office-presidency will NO War at all for the population protection, after these affairs the new government will need to manager and guide the people for better life and personal prosperity according to UN conditions. Not needed to adopt Arab Country's actual systems to let go this president. Angola also will be the same in present moment for too long time in power Dos Santos 32 years, system corrupt inn for personal benefits not regardless as people's rights in fake democracy but, within peaceful times with none improving connections. In Afrika, will be Not all times depending on ex-colonies Country's is wrong. You've corrupted all African Countries since they were Independant there none hop or a willing to these questions never got any solution.