'Hundreds killed' in Cote d'Ivoire violence

[robdogbucky]

At least 800 people reported killed in one town alone, Red Cross says, as battle for commercial capital rages on.

Last Modified: 02 Apr 2011 06:06

"At least 800 people have been reported killed in one town in Cote d'Ivoire, according to the Red Cross, as fierce fighting continues to grip the country...

"...This turn of events is a direct consequence of the intransigence of the outgoing president, Mr Laurent Gbagbo, who has repeatedly refused to heed calls for him to cede the reins of power in the country to the president-elect, Mr Alassane Ouattara," said a statement on Friday from the regional Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).

Gbagbo, 65, has not been seen in public since the offensive began five days ago, but those in his inner circle say he is still in Abidjan and will fight until the end. It is unclear where he is holed up, with Ouattara's camp speculating he is in a bunker in the palace...

...At least one million people have fled Abidjan and 494 have been killed during the four months of violence..."

http://english.aljazeera.net/news/africa/2011/04/201141232021597365.html#

[Catherina]

1. 800 people in some of the most horrific violence imaginable. Rec'd n/t

[uppityperson]

2. k&r for important news around the world.

probably won't get enough recs to get on greatest page and seen by more since it isn't snarky or sexy news. Thanks for posting this.

[joshcryer]

3. I rec all Ivory Coast news. Journalists are under threat of arrest for reporting the truth there.

Gbagbo threatened to arrest journalists and try them for terrorism for reporting the atrocities his men are doing.

Fortunately 50k of Gbagbo's men defected when they realized Gbagbo is trying to foment ethnic divides.

[dana_b]

4. so called leader who doesn't give damn about his people

Gbagbo sounds insane and if Ouattara's military has been committing these atrocities, how can he expect the UN to help him? What a cluster**** for the people. I hope that those who have been able to flee are able to find safe refuge.

[joshcryer]

6. Don't buy Gbagbo's bullshit, he is trying to smear the Muslims. It's a Christian-Muslim divide...

...and he knows that as long as he spreads hate and fear he can divide his country. He didn't win the elections and he must go.

[robdogbucky]

5. Cote d'Ivoire: The forgotten war?

Hundreds have been killed and thousands displaced, but the crisis has garnered little international attention.

Azad Essa Last Modified: 01 Apr 2011 18:49

"It reads like a poorly conceived Hollywood film: A national election in some West African nation goes horribly wrong when the sitting president refuses to vacate his position despite losing at the polls. A bloody standoff between forces loyal to the two politicians ensues, catching hundreds in the crossfire and forcing thousands to flee. The incumbent is supported by the army, the internationally recognised new president by a troop of former rebels.

But contrary to popular (dis)belief, this is no Hollywood film. This, today, is Cote d'Ivoire...

...For those who entered the theatre late, the story began with run-off elections last November. Supervised and certified by the UN, the vote was one of the last legs of a peace process that began after the country's civil war ended in 2003. Originally due to take place in 2005, it had been postponed to allow the post-war disarmament process to be completed. This meant that Gbagbo, who had been elected in 2000 and was meant to step down in 2005, continued on in a series of one-year extensions.

When elections finally took place in 2010, opposition leader Ouattara stood against Gbagbo and won by more than 350,000 votes. But Gbagbo claimed irregularities in election procedures in the north of the country - a claim ratified by the Gbagbo controlled constitutional court. The election results were subsequently altered - cutting Ouattara's share of the vote from a winning 54 per cent to a losing 49 per cent..."

http://english.aljazeera.net/indepth/features/2011/04/20114116296998447.html#

[joshcryer]

7. Gbagbo threw out the results in the heavily Muslim held north, and that's what this is about.

He didn't win by any sane measure. He'll be gone soon as his supporters are dwindling quick, the bloodshed will be enormous however. :(

[malaise]

8. Sarkozy wants to know why you are confusing

cocoa with oil?

[joshcryer]

9. Uh, France called for intervention in the Ivory Coast.

I assume you didn't know that, otherwise your post could be seen as intentional misinformation.