IVORY COAST: The camp of incumbent president Laurent Gbagbo blames U.N. for Ivory Coast crisis

Record ID: 181670

  • Title: IVORY COAST: The camp of incumbent president Laurent Gbagbo blames U.N. for Ivory Coast crisis
  • Date: 9th December 2010
  • Summary: ABIDJAN, IVORY COAST (DECEMBER 8, 2010) (REUTERS) MINISTER OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS IN LAURENT GBAGBO'S GOVERNMENT, ALCIDE DJEDJE, SEATED ON SOFA OFFICIAL TAKING NOTES (SOUNDBITE) (French) MINISTER OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS IN LAURENT GBAGBO'S GOVERNMENT, ALCIDE DJEDJE, SAYING: "Concerning the naming of a winner in the Presidential elections in Ivory Coast, it's not up to the CEDEAO (ECOWAS) to decide the winner in an election that took place in a member state." CLOSE OF OFFICIAL TAKING NOTES (SOUNDBITE) (French) MINISTER OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS IN LAURENT GBAGBO'S GOVERNMENT, ALCIDE DJEDJE, SAYING: "The United Nations gave us logistical support, and now they want to replace Ivorian authorities to say who had how many votes, who won, and proclaim him president. We've never seen that happen anywhere else. If you don't organise an election, how do you want to proclaim the results?" DJEDJE TALKING TO JOURNALIST (SOUNDBITE) (French) MINISTER OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS IN LAURENT GBAGBO'S GOVERNMENT, ALCIDE DJEDJE, SAYING: "The U.N. has gone adrift at the moment, the whole world should know it. The U.N. is way off the mark, it (the election) is a failure and where we are today is the fault of the United Nations who wanted us to go to elections without disarming." JOURNALISTS VARIOUS EXTERIORS OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS MINISTRY MAN CROSSING THE STREET
  • Embargoed: 24th December 2010 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Cote d'Ivoire
  • Country: Ivory Coast
  • Topics: Domestic Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVABU8YXSTKWO8C5E5PQEQNSTL2W
  • Story Text: A minister in Ivory Coast's Laurent Gbagbo government hit back on Wednesday (December 8) at the U.N. and the West African bloc who gave rival Alassane Quattara victory, saying they are to blame for the political crisis.
    The U.N. said on Wednesday after reviewing the vote that incumbent Gbagbo had no grounds to dispute the results of the Nov. 28 presidential election and ECOWAS (Economic Community of West African States) on Tuesday (December 7) suspended Ivory Coast.
    Gbagbo remains in control of the army and state television and has shown no signs of backing down despite the calls from the U.N., EU and the West African regional bloc.
    "It is not up to the ECOWAS to decide the winner in an election that took place in a member state," said Gbagbo's Foreign Minister, Alcide Djedje.
    Gbagbo's allies argued intimidation and fraud skewed the vote in the rebel-held north, a complaint the Constitutional Council -- run by a staunch Gbagbo ally -- upheld and used as grounds for cancelling hundreds of thousands of votes.
    "The United Nations gave us logistical support, and now they want to replace Ivorian authorities to say who had how many votes, who won, and proclaim him president. We've never seen that happen anywhere else. If you don't organise an election, how do you want to proclaim the results?" Djedje said.
    "The U.N. has gone adrift at the moment, the whole world should know it. The U.N. is way off the mark, it (the election) is a failure and where we are today its the fault of the United Nations who wanted us to go to elections without disarming," Djedje added.
    The pro-Gbagbo Notre Voie daily dismissed the meeting of the West African leaders in Nigeria as "The Plotters' Summit".
    Clashes involving security forces and rival supporters have left at least 28 dead and 280 wounded since Nov. 26, according to the International Committee of the Red Cross, with some observers fearing the real toll is double that.
    Security sources say gunmen have been raiding the houses of opposition activists at night and killing them, something that has not been seen in the West African country since the 2002-3 civil war.
    Ivorians have sought to continue life as normal and the business centre of the main city Abidjan was packed with traffic on Wednesday. But local business leaders have warned of looming problems for the economy unless the impassesoon.
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