Gbagbo in good condition, says US

2011-05-20 08:48

Washington - Ex-Ivory Coast president Laurent Gbagbo is in "good condition" and has been treated fairly while in custody, a top US diplomat said on Thursday in congressional testimony.

Gbagbo was arrested on April 11 by forces loyal to new President Alassane Ouattara, who was the internationally recognised winner of the November election but was kept from office when Gbagbo refused to step down.

"He's in good condition and his treatment is fair," William Fitzgerald, an African affairs specialist with the State Department, said during a hearing of the US Senate Foreign Relations Committee.

The committee met to examine ways to help the West African nation, through political reconciliation, and investigating post-election human rights abuses.

Fitzgerald's description of Gbagbo's treatment was quickly disputed by Republican Senator James Inhofe who has been a friend of Gbagbo.

"It's not true," Inhofe said, showing photos of Gbagbo and his wife after their arrest. "Look at his picture today, you see he's kicked in the side of the face."

Inhofe then referred to a photo of Simone Gbagbo surrounded by pro-Ouattara soldiers after her arrest. The smiling soldiers appear to be displaying the former first lady as a trophy.

"Use your imagination - you know what happened," Inhofe said.

Gbagbo counted Inhofe among his Christian conservative allies in the United States. Inhofe has visited Ivory Coast several times, and while the US administration was calling on Gbagbo to resign, Inhofe asked for new elections.

Ouattara, backed by much of the international community, took power when forces loyal to him, with support from the United Nations and French troops, captured Gbagbo after a fierce battle in Abidjan last month.

Serious crimes

More than 1 000 people died in the violence that followed the November election, according to UN figures.

Ouattara recently asked the International Criminal Court prosecutor to launch an inquiry into "the most serious crimes" committed.

Fitzgerald, a deputy assistant secretary of state for African affairs, said the deposed strongman must eventually face justice, but added that the Ouattara camp needs to be transparent in its actions.

"President Ouattara has repeatedly promised to co-operate with the Commission of Inquiry's findings, regardless of whether his forces or former president Gbagbo's troops or militiamen were involved," he said.

"We will hold him to that promise and ensure there will be no impunity," Fitzgerald added.

The United States, he said, is "committed to working with president Ouattara and the Ivoirian people to help re-establish Cote d'Ivoire as the beacon of stability and economic prosperity it once was".

The diplomat said the United States remains concerned about ongoing instability, despite Gbagbo's arrest.

"Political reconciliation is absolutely essential. All those who were involved in human rights abuses need to be brought to trial," he said.

- SAPA