Abidjan (Fides Service) - "We are happy to welcome Cardinal Gantin to Abidjan" says Fides sources in Ivory Coast. "He is coming to make a visit of solidarity to Ivorians, sorely tried by months of war and suffering. All over the country tension is still high. Demonstrations against France, charged with supporting the rebels, continue. French troops patrolling the streets are subject to verbal abuse and demonstrators have staged a sit-in in front of the French army headquarters in Abidjan. The political situation has reached a deadlock and it appears impossible to form a government seeing there is no agreement on which ministries to assign to the rebels. Prime Minister Diarra continues his talks but there is little hope for a speedy solution."
The Ivory Coast crisis will be the main issue for discussion at a French-African summit in Paris later this week. "President Gbagbo has decided not to take part. He is sending the prime minister in his place. This is a clear indication of the state of tension between France and Ivory Coast" . LM (Fides Service 18/2/2003 EM lines 13 Words: 178)