UN worried about I Coast
2005-08-05 09:32
Abidjan - The United Nations mission in Ivory Coast on Thursday said its peacekeeping forces and staff were being "inadmissibly" hampered in their movements, while a column of French forces in the divided country turned back after two days of trying to get through a pro-government checkpoint.
Hamadoun Toure, spokesperson for the UN mission known as ONUCI, told a press conference such incidents were almost becoming commonplace, with pro-government forces often the cause of the blockages.
Later a French army spokesperson said a supply convoy of French forces, which have been backing up UN peacekeeping forces in Ivory Coast, had turned back after spending two days trying to get through a roadblock set up by pro-government activists near the southwestern town of San Pedro.
'Unacceptable situation'
The column of around 10 vehicles, which had been due to supply Senegalese UN troops in San Pedro, returned to its base to avoid bloodshed, said lieutenant-colonel Philippe de Cussac, adding that the French had consulted with ONUCI officials over the decision.
At his press conference, the ONUCI official Toure said the blockages were "an inadmissible and unacceptable situation that we condemn".
Toure said on Wednesday a UN team had been blocked by government troops at Agboville, 70km north of Abidjan, while trying to carry out an investigation.
Troops and pro-government Young Patriot militia had already held up UN forces last month following reports of violence in Agboville.
Officials claimed seven government security personnel and 17 assailants were killed in attacks in the area, but the assailants have not been identified. The rebel New Forces holding the north of the country have denied involvement.
Efforts to resolve the tense stalemate in Ivory Coast, the world's top cocoa producer, are making little headway, with the repeated failure of rebels and forces loyal to President Laurent Gbagbo to get a disarmament programme under way.
Fears around presidential elections
There are fears of a "constitutional void" if presidential elections are not held as scheduled on October 30.
Toure said the UN's high representative for the elections, former Portuguese foreign minister Antonio Monteiro, was expected at the weekend to take up his job.
He would be having talks with all sides immediately following his arrival, Toure said.
Separately, a group of militia fighters who support Ivory Coast President Laurent Gbagbo was demobilised in a northern neighbourhood of Abidjan, the country's main city.
The 200-strong group, known as the "MI-24 company", took part in an official disarmament ceremony in the Abobo neighbourhood, with UN, French and South African mediation officials looking on.
The country's peace plan, agreed via South African mediation, calls for pro-government militia groups to be dismantled by August 20.
Disarmament of rebel groups is due to start on September 19.