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Defense News - Ivory Coast |
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Wednesday,
March 30 2011, 05:59 PM |
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Libya, a new civil war starts in Africa, Ivory Coast. |
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As
the world's attention is focused on the conflict in Libya,
another African country -- the Ivory Coast on Africa's west
coast -- is sliding toward another bloody civil war, according
to observers who keep a close eye on warring factions there.
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In
the most recent developments, the city of Bondoukou in eastern
Ivory Coast fell into the hands of rebel fighters who support
challenger Alassane Ouattara and fight under the name Republican
Forces. The international community recognizes Ouattara
as the winner of the presidential election, but Laurent
Gbagbo claims he won re-election and has refused to step
aside.
France is submitting draft UN resolutions to ban the use
of heavy weapons in Abidjan, and to impose sanctions on
incumbent Laurent Gbagbo and those close to him.
Gbagbo
alleges vote rigging in the election and refuses to step
down in favour of Alassane Ouattara, who is recognised internationally
to have won the election.
Ouattara's forces are actually foreign mercenaries who are
being armed by the United Nations and France, Kokora alleges.
He accused the rebels of burning villages and taking in
fighters from Burkina Faso, Mali and Nigeria.
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