IVORY COAST: Former South Africa President Thabo Mbeki bids to break Ivory Coast election deadlock

Record ID: 181852

  • Title: IVORY COAST: Former South Africa President Thabo Mbeki bids to break Ivory Coast election deadlock
  • Date: 6th December 2010
  • Summary: ABIDJAN, IVORY COAST (DECEMBER 5, 2010) (REUTERS) **CONTAINS FLASH PHOTOGRAPHY** VARIOUS OF SOUTH AFRICAN PRESIDENT THABO MBEKI ARRIVING IN CONFERENCE HALL TO MEET WITH OPPOSITION LEADER ALASSANE OUATTARA, AND SITTING DOWN NEXT TO ZODWA LALLIE (IN WHITE), SOUTH AFRICA'S SPECIAL ENVOY TO IVORY COAST JOURNALISTS OUATTARA SHAKING HANDS WITH MBEKI AND EMBRACING LALLIE (SOUNDBITE) (English) SOUTH AFRICA PRESIDENT, THABO MBEKI, SAYING: "We're listening Reporter saying: Is that it? "that's our task, yes, we're here to listen." SOUTH AFRICA'S PRESIDENT THABO MBEKI AND OPPOSITION LEADER ALASSANE OUATTARA SHAKING HANDS AT THE END OF THE MEETING (SOUNDBITE) (French) OPPOSITION LEADER ALASSANE OUATTARA, SAYING: "I am asking him (Mbeki) to ask Mr Laurent Gbgagbo not to hold on to power, that he goes to talk to him (Gbagbo) so that he steps down, as things should go when someone loses an election." JOURNALISTS (SOUNDBITE) (English) SOUTH AFRICAN PRESIDENT THABO MBEKI SAYING: "He (Outtara) has explained his position and so we are still talking to other people and at the end of that, when we've spoken to everybody it will be possible for us to come to some determination as to what will do." JOURNALISTS AND MBEKI AT NEWS CONFERENCE
  • Embargoed: 21st December 2010 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Topics: International Relations,Domestic Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVADEITZPJ4AEY193393KNBWIOX6
  • Story Text: Ivory Coast's Laurent Gbagbo has no choice but to step down, rival Alassane Ouattara declared on Sunday (December 5) after an early mediation bid to end a poll dispute threatening new unrest in the West African nation.
    The Nov. 28 vote was aimed at reuniting a country split after 2002-03 civil war but has raised tensions after both Gbagbo and Ouattara claimed victory and took presidential oaths.
    Ouattara's comments after first talks with Thabo Mbeki, the former South African president charged with mediation, showed he is in no mood for compromise after securing solid endorsements from the United Nations, neighbours and others.
    "I am asking him (Mbeki) to ask Mr Laurent Gbgagbo not to hold on to power, that he goes to talk to him (Gbagbo) so that he steps down, as someone should when they lose an election," Ouattara said after talks in a UN-guarded hotel.
    Mbeki told reporters only that the talks with Ouattara had been positive and that the African Union considered the situation in the world's top cocoa grower "very serious".
    "He (Ouattara) has explained his position and so we are still talking to other people and at the end of that, when we've spoken to everybody it will be possible for us to come to some determination as to what will do," Mbeki, who has been involved in past mediation efforts.
    He was similarly tight-lipped after his meeting with Gbagbo at the incumbent's residence earlier in the day.
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