- Title: IVORY COAST: Violent demonstrations erupt in central Ivory Coast
- Date: 21st February 2010
- Summary: BOUAKE, IVORY COAST (FEBRUARY 20) (REUTERS) YOUNG MEN IN THE ROAD PROTESTING SOLDIER IN FRONT OF CAR TURNED OVER STILL IN SMOKE (SOUNDBITE) (French) UNIDENTIFIED PROTESTER, SAYING: "We are tired of this, we have no electricity, we have water and food shortages, no work. We're all there waiting and we have nowhere to work, companies close down, we don't have proper ID papers. They say we're going to have elections and we have no elections, we don't understand anything anymore, that's why we came out to protest." VARIOUS OF SOLDIERS AROUND CARS IN SMOKE, PEOPLE MARCHING
- Embargoed: 8th March 2010 12:00
- Keywords:
- Topics: Domestic Politics
- Reuters ID: LVA1LPCA1X9FD1XMKFHKTFKZD71Q
- Story Text: Thousands of protesters marched through the central Ivory Coast city of Bouake on Saturday (February 20), some of them setting fire to cars, smashing up shops and looting a local government office.
Demonstrations have erupted almost daily across the world's top cocoa producer since President Laurent Gbagbo dissolved the government and the electoral commission a week ago, after a row over voter registration.
Marchers in Bouake shouted: "We don't want Gbagbo", as a group of them broke into the regional governor's office and stole equipment, a Reuters reporter saw. Rioters set fire to at least two cars.
"We are tired of this, we have no electricity, we have water and food shortages, no work. We're all there waiting and we have nowhere to work, companies close down, we don't have proper ID papers. They say we're going to have elections and we have no elections, we don't understand anything anymore, that's why we came out to protest," said one man at the demonstration.
In the southwestern town of Gagnoa, Ivorian security forces dispersed protesters with tear gas a day after they opened fire on demonstrators there and killed five.
Friday's clashes were the first to result in bloodshed in a week of demonstrations, heightening tension as public anger grows at years of delays to the election timetable.
The military confirmed on national television that five people had been killed and nine wounded in Friday's protest. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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