IVORY COAST: HUNDREDS OF "YOUNG PATRIOTS" PROTEST OUTSIDE HEADQUARTERS OF FRENCH PEACEKEEPING FORCES IN ABIDJAN

Record ID: 183524

  • Title: IVORY COAST: HUNDREDS OF "YOUNG PATRIOTS" PROTEST OUTSIDE HEADQUARTERS OF FRENCH PEACEKEEPING FORCES IN ABIDJAN
  • Date: 10th June 2004
  • Summary: (W8) ABIDJAN, IVORY COAST (JUNE 10, 2004) (REUTERS) 1. VARIOUS OF PRESIDENT LAURENT GBAGBO'S SUPPORTERS, KNOWN AS YOUNG PATRIOTS, DEMONSTRATING OUTSIDE HEADQUARTERS OF FRENCH PEACEKEEPING FORCES IN ABIDJAN 0.05 2. YOUNG PATRIOTS STOPPED BY IVORIAN POLICE FORCES 0.10 3. MORE OF DEMONSTRATORS 0.14 4. FRENCH SOLDIERS BEHIND BARBED WIRE / FRENCH SOLDIER AVOIDING STONE THROWN AT HIM BY PROTESTER 0.21 5. VARIOUS OF DEMONSTRATORS BEING PUSHED BACK BY IVORIAN POLICEMEN (3 SHOTS) 0.42 6. VARIOUS OF FRENCH SOLDIERS PREPARING BARBED WIRE (2 SHOTS) 0.51 7. MORE OF DEMONSTRATORS GATHERING TOGETHER 0.55 8. WS: PROTESTERS GATHERED IN FRONT OF YOUNG PATRIOTS LEADER, CHARLES BLE GOUDE 0.59 9. VARIOUS OF CHARLES BLE GOUDE GREETING PROTESTERS (3 SHOTS) 1.21 10. PROTESTERS CHANTING AND GREETING 1.26 11. FRENCH SOLDIERS 1.30 12. SCU: DEMONSTRATOR HOLDING BANNER IN FRENCH READING: "DEATH TO CHIRAC NOW" 1.34 13. DEMONSTRATOR HOLDING BANNER IN FRENCH READING: "CHIRAC CALL BACK ALL YOUR TROOPS OTHERWISE ALL FRENCH PEOPLE IN IVORY COAST WILL BE AT RISK" 1.41 14. CHARLES BLE GOUDE (WEARING MANCHESTER UNITED T-SHIRT) DISCUSSING WITH FRENCH OFFICERS 1.45 Initials Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved
  • Embargoed: 25th June 2004 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: ABIDJAN, IVORY COAST
  • Country: Ivory Coast
  • Reuters ID: LVAES1SDIUCDV7VYI7YCUQLFK3V5
  • Story Text: Young Patriots protest outside headquarters of
    French peacekeeping forces in Abidjan.


    Hundreds of demonstrators from the group called
    "Young Patriots", rallied in front of the French army base
    in Abidjan on Thursday (June 10), blaming them for a recent
    rebel attack into a government-controlled area.

    The Ivorian army said seven people were killed and at
    least 14 wounded in Sunday night's (June 6) firefight
    involving gunmen from the rebel-held north as well as
    French peacekeepers.

    The French army said it had taken around 10 prisoners
    after the gunbattle but had not yet identified them. They
    would likely be turned over to the United Nations after
    being interrogated.

    Bakayoko said his rebel forces were not behind Sunday's
    attack and urged peacekeepers to ensure the ceasefire held.

    Militant supporters of President Laurent Gbagbo, who is
    visiting the United States to promote business ties,
    accused French and U.N. forces of backing an attempted
    coup.

    Leader of the "Young Patriots", Charles Ble Goude was
    seen marching and chanting with the protesters.

    Ble Goude, who has orchestrated violent anti-French
    demonstrations in the past, warned U.N. and French troops
    not to drive their vehicles in loyalist areas until Gbagbo
    returned, saying he could not guarantee their safety.

    Anti-French and anti-U.N. sentiment has been mounting
    in the loyalist south where Gbagbo's supporters say the
    international community is not doing enough to make the
    rebels disarm.

    Gendarmes fired teargas from the roof of the French
    embassy on Monday at hundreds of protesters burning tyres
    and throwing stones. French schools in Abidjan were closed
    on Tuesday.

    The U.S. embassy was also closed after reports that
    demonstrators had attacked Westerners in their cars.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
  • Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2015. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
  • Usage Terms/Restrictions: None
Register