[allAfrica.com]  [Africa_2004]


Mbeki to Help Defuse Strife in Ivory Coast

BuaNews (Pretoria)
NEWS
November 8, 2004
Posted to the web November 8, 2004

By Matome Sebelebele
Pretoria
President Thabo Mbeki is due to visit the strife-torn Ivory Coast to help find
a political solution for that country, following a dramatic escalation of
violence that has embroiled French peacekeepers there.
The west African state was plunged into crisis last week with looting and
violence against French nationals following the deaths of nine French troops in
an air strike.
The violence left about 11 people dead and about 100 wounded.
The United Nations Security Council has condemned the attack against the French
peacekeepers.
There are some 10 000 French and UN peacekeepers in Ivory Coast, most along the
ceasefire line dividing the rebel-held north from the government-held south.
South Africa today confirmed that President Mbeki would soon be leaving for the
West African country after consulting various regional leaders in particular
those from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).
President Mbeki, who has been requested by the African Union to help resolve
the current crisis, has since appealed for calm and an end to hostilities.
The renewed conflict had African leaders worried with some expressing concern
at the failure of the signatories to implement "in full" the Accra III
Agreement.
The agreement, signed by representatives of all the political parties and rebel
movements in Ivory Coast, spells out key dates for the implementation of the
peace accord in the divided west African nation.

   

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