IVORY COAST: Kenya's PM Raila Odinga joins diplomatic efforts to resolve Ivory Coast crisis

Record ID: 181668

  • Title: IVORY COAST: Kenya's PM Raila Odinga joins diplomatic efforts to resolve Ivory Coast crisis
  • Date: 4th January 2011
  • Summary: ABIDJAN, IVORY COAST (JANUARY 3, 2011) (REUTERS) IVORY COAST INCUMBENT LEADER LAURENT GBAGBO, KENYA'S PRIME MINISTER RAILA ODINGA AND ECOWAS PRESIDENTS COMING OUT OF PRESIDENCY JOURNALISTS GBAGBO AND ECOWAS PRESIDENTS FROM SIERRA LEONE ERNEST BAI KOROMA, CAPE VERDE PEDRO PIRES AND BENIN PRESIDENT YAYI BONI STANDING TALKING ARMED SECURITY GUARDS (SOUNDBITE) (English) KENYA'S PRIME MINISTER, RAILA ODINGA, SAYING: "We came here and have joined the mixed delegation, of African Union and ECOWAS to try and initiate a dialogue to resolve the crisis in Ivory Coast. PRESIDENTS GOING TOWARDS THEIR CARS, CONVOY LEAVING
  • Embargoed: 19th January 2011 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Cote d'Ivoire
  • Country: Ivory Coast
  • Topics: Domestic Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVA56DUH0V7I74MAYL63M8FSYO57
  • Story Text: African leaders began a mission on Monday (January 3) to persuade Ivory Coast's Laurent Gbagbo to cede power to his rival Alassane Ouattara in return for guarantees of "safety and security."
    Gbagbo has so far refused to concede he lost the Nov. 28 election to Ouattara despite widespread international condemnation and the threat of force to oust him.
    Four leaders representing West African regional bloc ECOWAS and the African Union met with Gbagbo in Abidjan to urge him to give up the presidency after U.N.-certified results showed he lost the election.
    It was the second visit by three west African heads of state -- Benin's Boni Yayi, Sierra Leone's Ernest Bai Koroma and Cape Verde's Pedro Pires -- who made an initial attempt last week.
    Kenyan Prime Minister Raila Odinga joined them on the AU's behalf.
    ECOWAS has said it could use "legitimate force" if Gbagbo refuses to go quietly and a spokesman for Ouattara's rival government has said this will be Gbagbo's last chance to step down peacefully and with immunity.
    Speaking after the meeting with Gbagbo, Odinga said the mission was to open communication between the two camps.
    "We came here and have joined the mixed delegation, of African Union and ECOWAS to try and initiate a dialogue to resolve the crisis in Ivory Coast.
    Asked if the mission would repeat an ultimatum for Gbagbo to leave or face force, ECOWAS Ivory Coast representive Doukoure Abram told Reuters by telephone: "No, there will be discussions going on." The mission will also meet with Ouattara, he said.
    More than 170 people have been killed since the start of the standoff in the world's top cocoa grower, which threatens to restart open conflict in the country still split in two by a 2002-03 civil war.
    Gbagbo, who has the backing of the country's top court and the army, has shrugged off pressure to step down and said on state television over the weekend that Ouattara "should not count on foreign armies to come and make him president".
    A Gbagbo spokesman said Gbagbo, who has been in power since 2000, would not agree to leave.
    The pro-Gbagbo constitutional council reversed Ouattara's win by cancelling hundreds of thousands of votes in Ouattara strongholds, alleging fraud. The African leaders were expected to meet the head of the council, Paul Yao N'Dre, later on Monday.
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