I Coast: UN observers harassed
2005-08-12 14:34
Abidjan - Two United Nations military observers were threatened by supporters of President Laurent Gbagbo in southwestern Ivory Coast and their vehicle wrecked in the second such incident in two days, a UN spokesperson said on Friday.
Hamadoun Toure said the two unarmed observers from the United Nations operation in the divided country were harassed by hostile young men in the town of Gagnoa Thursday.
"Under pressure, our two observers had to take refuge on foot in the regional government offices. Their vehicle was damaged by the demonstrators. Troops of the Bangladeshi contingent had to come and evacuate them," Toure said.
A military source in the UN mission known as ONUCI said the vehicle was "very badly damaged" and the observers were threatened with death but not physically molested.
On Wednesday pro-Gbagbo "young patriots" had forced a UN civilian team to turn back in the same region, the president's birthplace and stronghold, as they were on their way to meet senior local officials.
Gbagbo's spokesperson Tuesday had called on Ivorians not to stand in the way of the UN and French peacekeeping forces operating in the country following a number of incidents in government-controlled areas.
Toure said: "We condemn this new obstruction and we want the authorities to take steps to ensure that the message (from Gbagbo) reaches everyone."
Ivory Coast, the world's top cocoa producer, has been split in two since a failed attempt to oust Gbagbo in 2002.
The so-called young patriots accused the peacekeepers of being on the side of the rebels holding the northern half of the country.
In one of the most serious incidents, UN forces trying to reach an area north of Abidjan where mysterious attacks reportedly caused a number of deaths last month were held up for 24 hours.
Prosecutor Ange Kessi said on Thursday the investigation into the July 24 attacks had been completed, with 61 people charged, and it was now up to the examining magistrate to decide whether to proceed to trial.
According to the army, the attacks on police stations in Anyama and Agboville killed seven members of the security forces and 17 assailants.
Some 40 people were arrested, including nationals of neighbouring Mali and Ivory Coast, the military said.
Gbagbo supporters accused the rebel New Forces holding the northern part of the country of responsibility, which the latter strongly denied. The opposition press has suggested a put-up job on the part of the Gbagbo camp.
Efforts to resolve the tense stalemate in Ivory Coast are making little headway.