IVORY COAST/FILE: The United Nations says seven peacekeepers have been killed in an ambush whilst on patrol in the Ivory Coast

Record ID: 182213

  • Title: IVORY COAST/FILE: The United Nations says seven peacekeepers have been killed in an ambush whilst on patrol in the Ivory Coast
  • Date: 9th June 2012
  • Summary: ABIDJAN, IVORY COAST (MARCH 04, 2011) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF UNITED NATIONS TANK, UN SOLDIERS ON TOP MOVING TOWARD YOUNG PATRIOTS ROADBLOCK JORDANIAN UN SOLDIER JUMPS FROM TANK AND RUNS TOWARDS ROADBLOCK (UPSOUND SHOTS FIRED IN AIR BY JORDAN SOLDIERS (NOT SEEN) UN TANK MOVING - SHOTGUN SOUND YOUNG PATRIOTS CHECKPOINT, UN SUPPLY TRUCK WITH UN SOLDIERS VARIOUS OF UN SOLDIERS RUNNING ALONG, TANK MOVING UN SOLDIERS ON TOP OF TANK SOLDIERS WALKING NEXT TO TANK HEADING BACK TO BASE ABIDJAN, IVORY COAST (DECEMBER, 13 2010) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF IVORY COAST ARMY SOLDIERS SEATED IN A PICK-UP VANS MORE OF VANS CARRYING SOLDIERS BEING DRIVEN THROUGH STREET VARIOUS OF UNITED NATIONS OPERATION IN IVORY COAST (UNOCI) SOLDIERS BACKED WITH ARMOURED PERSONNEL CARRIERS GUARDING HOTEL BASE UNOCI SOLDIERS SEATED IN BACK OF UN PICK UP VAN, PATROLLING AREA
  • Embargoed: 24th June 2012 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Cote d'Ivoire
  • Country: Ivory Coast
  • Topics: Crime,Conflict,International Relations
  • Reuters ID: LVABK8PGNM9LQHCUEGAUEW9A8FOW
  • Story Text: Seven United Nations peacekeepers were killed in an ambush in Ivory Coast on Friday (June 8) while on patrol near the border with neighbouring Liberia, the U.N. mission said.
    It was not immediately clear who attacked the U.N. troops or if any Ivorian troops they were patrolling with were harmed.
    The United Nations said the mission had only recently increased its presence in the area, near the towns of Para and Tai, to boost efforts to protect civilians. The troops came under attack just a few kilometres from the border with Liberia.
    U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon told reporters in New York that he was saddened and outraged by the attack.
    The world's top cocoa grower is gradually recovering from months of violence last year that followed a 2010 election.
    The vote was won by Alassane Ouattara but incumbent Laurent Gbagbo refused to cede until defeated by French and U.N.-backed local forces who supported Ouattara.
    New York-based Human Rights Watch warned earlier this week that Liberian mercenaries and Ivorian fighters who fought on behalf of Gbagbo in the brief civil war last year were launching attacks on Ivory Coast from Liberia.
    The rights campaigner said the combatants behind the raids, which have killed 40 people since last July, are receiving support from individuals in the region.
    Authorities in Togo arrested Moise Lida Kouassi, a close advisor to Gbagbo, on Wednesday (June 6). Ivory Coast accused him of plotting to destabilise the government from exile.
    Ivory Coast Defence Minister Paul Koffi Koffi told Reuters that Ivorian troops were preparing operations with Liberian forces, and peacekeepers from the U.N. missions in the two countries to eliminate threats emanating from Liberia.
    U.N. officials could not immediately confirm that the military operations were going ahead.
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