AFRICA/IVORY COAST - At least 11 people killed Opposition demonstration interrupted: crucial hour for Ivory Coast

Thursday, 25 March 2004

Abidjan (Fides Service)- “The city is holding its breath, all strategic points are heavily manned ” local Church sources in Abidjan told Fides. Today, March 25, Ivory Coast Opposition parties had staged a demonstration in Abidjan against the policies of President Laurent Gbagbo. “Fear grows with every passing hour. This is a crucial moment in the history of Ivory Coast ”.
According to international media at least eleven people were killed in clashes between the demonstrators and the police. The organisers say the police prevent anyone from going onto the streets, the city is blocked. “On the eve of the demonstration there was more fear of clashes with the President’s supporters that with the police” local sources told Fides.
The demonstration was organised by 7 parties which walked out of the interim government accusing the President of failing to respect the peace agreement signed in France in January 2003, to put an end to civil war which started in 2002. The main Opposition parties are the Ivory Coast Democratic Party PDCI, the party of “father of the fatherland” Félix Houphouët-Boigny, and New Forces rebels which control the north west of the country since September 2002.
“Behind this tension there are Party interests in view of elections in 2005, and this is putting the peace process on the back burner. But until the country is re-united and the rebels are disarmed, to increase tension in view of the electoral campaign is only to stoke the fire” local sources told Fides. (L.M.) (Agenzia Fides 25/3/2004, righe 26 parole 306)


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