By Matthew Russell Lee
UNITED NATIONS, December 16 -- Following clashes between supporters of Alassane Ouattara and Laurent Gbagbo, UN Security Council president Susan Rice read out a Council statement to the Press among other things condemning the violence in Abidjan.
Inner City Press asked if the Council was aware, from the briefing by top UN peacekeeper Alain Le Roy or otherwise, of clashes elsewhere in Cote d'Ivoire beyond Abidjan.
Yes, Ambassador Rice answered, Mr. Le Roy had spoken of fighting “in the town you mentioned, forty miles from Yamoussoukro,” the political capital known for its mega cathedral. The town is Tibeissou.
Some wondered why the Council's statement was limited to Abidjan. A Council member's political coordinator opined that it was because the main stand off is around the Golf Hotel in Abidjan. He wondered aloud at the wisdom of Ouattara sending his supporters to face violence, trying to take the TV and radio station.
Inner City Press asked another Ivorian diplomat, appointed by Gbagbo, what he thought of developments. “Gbagbo has to go,” the diplomat replied, predicting exile in Angola by the end of the week.
Others are not so sure.
France is opposed to including Gbagbo in the sanctions lists to be finalized in Brussels next Monday, reportedly, wanting to keep this “final” card in hand in case Gbagbo continues to refuse to leave. Watch this site.
