IVORY COAST: Gbagbo government tells U.N. forces to leave the country

Record ID: 181970

  • Title: IVORY COAST: Gbagbo government tells U.N. forces to leave the country
  • Date: 19th December 2010
  • Summary: ABIDJAN, IVORY-COAST (RECENT - DECEMBER 15, 2010) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF U.N. TROOPS AND ARMOURED VEHICLES OUTSIDE GOLF HOTEL (12 SHOTS)
  • Embargoed: 3rd January 2011 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Cote d'Ivoire
  • Country: Ivory Coast
  • Topics: International Relations
  • Reuters ID: LVA150QX4Z7BNPY39KQXVC8D7APN
  • Story Text: The government of Ivory Coast's incumbent President Laurent Gbagbo on Saturday (December 18) told the United Nations (U.N.) and French peacekeeping missions to leave, escalating a dispute over last month's elections.
    Both the U.N. and former colonial power France have called on Gbagbo to concede defeat in a November 28 poll, meant to heal the wounds of the West African state's 2002-03 civil war but which has instead reopened them.
    Spokeswoman Jacqueline Oble, reading a statement over state television, said the government demanded that the United Nations mission in Ivory Coast (UNOCI) and the French LICORNE forces leave Ivory Coast and was opposed to any renewal of their mandate. She also stated that the UNOCI seriously interfered in the internal affairs of the country.
    UNOCI includes some 10,000 soldiers and police, and is supported by the LICORNE.
    Hundreds of peacekeepers have been deployed to defend Ouattara's makeshift headquarters in Abidjan's lagoon-side Golf Hotel.
    The country has been in turmoil since Gbagbo claimed victory in the election with backing from the nation's top legal body, rejecting as fraudulent results showing he lost by nearly eight percent to rival Alassane Ouattara.
    The dispute turned bloody last week as pro-Ouattara marchers clashed with security forces, leaving at least 20 people dead on Thursday (December 16), according to the Gbagbo government. Former rebels supporting Ouattara also briefly exchanged fire with government soldiers.
    U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, who has recognised Ouattara as the winner of the election, warned last week of the potential for a resumption of civil war and called on all sides to avoid moves that could trigger further violence.
    The United States, France and the European Union have heaped diplomatic pressure on Gbagbo in recent days to step down, threatening sanctions if he does not do so within days.
    A top U.S. State Department official told Reuters on Friday (December 17) that Gbagbo had also been offered a 'soft landing' in exile in an African country if he steps down. But a Gbagbo spokesman said late on Friday Gbagbo had no intention of leaving.
    Gbagbo has been in power in Ivory Coast since 2000 after a disputed election with coup leader Robert Guei, and two years later survived a rebellion that split the country into a rebel-held north and his government-controlled south.
    Charles Ble Goude, the leader of Gbagbo's youth organisation, the Young Patriots, told Reuters by telephone on Saturday that he was preparing the group for a possible march to 'liberate' the Golf hotel, where U.N. troops have been defending Ouattara's headquarters.
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