Ivory Coast Army Blockades Opposition Hotel
- 13 years ago
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Ivory Coast's army continues to surround an opposition hotel in Abidjan because of the threat posed by armed UN soldiers. Incumbent president Laurent Gbagbo is refusing to concede the presidency to the should-be president Alassane Ouattara.
Despite assurances from the current presidential leader Laurent Gbagbo that the blockade would be relaxed, Ivory Coast security forces are continuing their barricade outside the Golf Hotel in Abidjan.
300 armed rebels continue their stand-off inside the hotel.
The rebels inside the hotel are claiming loyalty to the would-be president Alassane Ouattara.
At a news conference on Wednesday Gbagbo's foreign minister Alcide Djedje indicated that Gbagbo had not exactly agreed to a lifting of the blockade, claiming
[Alcide Djedje, Foreign Minister]:
"He said he was ready to study the conditions for lifting the blockade. The Ivorian army believes that we cannot tolerate three hundred soldiers in this hotel. They are heavily armed and it threatens even the president because it is five minutes from the Golf Hotel to the president's residence.''
Until a short time ago a substantial military and police presence was still busy sealing off all roads leading to the lagoon-side hotel with only U.N. helicopters and supply trucks allowed access.
Gbagbo has the support of his security forces and the Constitutional Council as well as militia groups and some Ivorian youths.
The Constitutional Council overruled Ouattara's claimed 8-point election win alleging fraud.
According to Djedje, Gbago has refused exile in South Africa, Nigeria and the United States,
[Alcide Djedje, Foreign mMnister]:
"President Gbagbo doesn't need to go to Washington. He's fine where he is and he intends to stay there."
Djedje has also called on the U.N. forces in the Ivory Coast to leave.
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Follow us on Twitter ☛ http://twitter.com/NTDTelevision
Ivory Coast's army continues to surround an opposition hotel in Abidjan because of the threat posed by armed UN soldiers. Incumbent president Laurent Gbagbo is refusing to concede the presidency to the should-be president Alassane Ouattara.
Despite assurances from the current presidential leader Laurent Gbagbo that the blockade would be relaxed, Ivory Coast security forces are continuing their barricade outside the Golf Hotel in Abidjan.
300 armed rebels continue their stand-off inside the hotel.
The rebels inside the hotel are claiming loyalty to the would-be president Alassane Ouattara.
At a news conference on Wednesday Gbagbo's foreign minister Alcide Djedje indicated that Gbagbo had not exactly agreed to a lifting of the blockade, claiming
[Alcide Djedje, Foreign Minister]:
"He said he was ready to study the conditions for lifting the blockade. The Ivorian army believes that we cannot tolerate three hundred soldiers in this hotel. They are heavily armed and it threatens even the president because it is five minutes from the Golf Hotel to the president's residence.''
Until a short time ago a substantial military and police presence was still busy sealing off all roads leading to the lagoon-side hotel with only U.N. helicopters and supply trucks allowed access.
Gbagbo has the support of his security forces and the Constitutional Council as well as militia groups and some Ivorian youths.
The Constitutional Council overruled Ouattara's claimed 8-point election win alleging fraud.
According to Djedje, Gbago has refused exile in South Africa, Nigeria and the United States,
[Alcide Djedje, Foreign mMnister]:
"President Gbagbo doesn't need to go to Washington. He's fine where he is and he intends to stay there."
Djedje has also called on the U.N. forces in the Ivory Coast to leave.