Ivorian mobs turned back by rocket fire from French helicopters.

[Flagg]

PARIS, Nov 7 (AFP) -

France was in danger of being sucked into the escalating conflict in its former colony Ivory Coast on Sunday, after President Jacques Chirac's order to destroy the Ivorian air force prompted anti-French riots in the main city Abidjan.
The intervention provoked a stark warning from the speaker of the Ivorian parliament Mamadou Coulibaly, a Gbagbo loyalist, who said France faced a "long, hard war" and that French nationals risked death at the hands of the "patriot" mob.
"Vietnam will be nothing compared with what we are going to do here," he said. "The Ivorian authorities consider themselves now to be rebels against the French power which Jacques Chirac is trying to install. There will be fierce resistance."
Overnight thousands of protesters loyal to Gbagbo marched on the airport in Abidjan, which is under the control of French forces, and were turned back by rocket fire from French helicopters.
There were widespread reports of looting and burning of French property, including four schools and the residence of French gendarmes in Abidjan. Anti-French demonstrations were also reported in the administrative capital Yamoussoukro. There are estimated to be between 10,000 and 11,000 French nationals in Ivory Coast, most of them carrying joint citizenship.
.
The attack killed nine troops -- France's biggest single loss in a foreign military operation since Beirut in 1983 -- and wounded 22 others. An American civilian was also killed.
In an immediate riposte, Chirac ordered the destruction of the two jets on the ground at Yamoussoukro airport as well as at least three attack helicopters, effectively eliminating the Ivorian air force. Chirac said the planes had been violating the country's ceasefire in raids on the rebel-held north.
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http://www.ttc.org/200411071517.ia7fhlg22104.htm

what have we gotten oursleves ino now ?

[Kagemusha]

1. Pinch me. I feel sorry for the French.

Here they go in trying to keep the peace between the rebels and the government - and it ends up being the government that initiates further fighting, and when the French retaliate for the strafing of villages under their guard with their troops inside, the government organizes mobs.

Organizes mobs!

[Moderator]

2. Duplicate topic

add this story if it updates the previous thread

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=102&topic_id=966808