Ecowas slams I Coast threats
2006-10-05 17:06
Abuja - The west African trade bloc Ecowas described on Wednesday as "totally unacceptable" comments attributed to a close ally of Ivory Coast President Laurent Gbagbo apparently threatening the lives of nationals of the organisation's member states.
The statements by the head of the Ivorian Popular Front (FPI), Pascal Affi N'Guessan, reported by several newspapers on Wednesday, came ahead of key talks on Ivory Coast's future, scheduled for Friday in the Nigerian capital Abuja.
N'Guessan warned the 15-nation Economic Community of West African States (Ecowas) to beware of the consequences for its citizens in Ivory Coast.
"Ecowas should not forget that millions of its nationals live in Ivory Coast," he was quoted as saying.
Lack of preparations delayed polls
"Each one of these countries must think of their people," he said, adding that the organisation must not "speak to create disorder".
He also cautioned the meeting not to mention the problem of the Ivorian constitution.
The summit meeting is aimed at charting a way out of the political crisis in the world's top cocoa producer where presidential elections due to be held by October 31 have been postponed.
The west African economic grouping is expected to outline a new peace plan after procedural problems and lack of preparations delayed the polls for the second time.
The polls were officially postponed in August, and a new date is to be set by Ecowas, the African Union and the UN security council.
'Statements totally unacceptable'
In a swift reaction, the economic bloc in an official text on Wednesday described N'Guessan's statements as "irresponsible, inflammatory and totally unacceptable".
"The statements are an insult to the entire Ecowas region and show complete disrespect to the heads of state and government of Ecowas, especially as they were made just before their scheduled October 6 summit meeting" on Ivory Coast, said the text.
"Ecowas wishes to remind Mr N'Guessan of his personal responsibility should there be any acts of violence against Ecowas citizens as a result of these threats," said the bloc.
The bloc also said that it condemned "acts of impunity" and that it was determined to work with the international community to help establish the rule of law, accountability and democracy in the region.
- SAPA