Ivory Coast embassy stormed

2004-03-01 20:24

Monrovia - Ivory Coast refugees living in west African neighbour Liberia stormed their embassy on Monday to protest against their treatment by diplomatic representatives.

About 30 Ivorian men, women and children demanding the resignation of consul Prosper Kotchi pulled down the orange, white and green Ivorian flag outside the diplomatic mission and took one of the embassy vehicles.

They complained of neglect by embassy staff when they went to the mission for documents or help with identity cards.

Hundreds of Ivorian nationals fled across the border into Liberia to escape a civil war spawned by a September 2002 coup attempt against President Laurent Gbagbo.

Although guns have been silent since a ceasefire was declared in July, Ivory Coast remains split between the rebel-held north and west and the government-run south.

Tens of thousands of Liberians remain in Ivory Coast, awaiting the signal that it is safe to return to their own still-volatile homeland, which put a definitive end to 14 years of war in August last year.

Will try to repatriate them

While embassy employee Felicia Asara acknowledged that there might be some resentment because the embassy staff spoke English instead of French, the national language in Ivory Coast, she denied any mistreatment.

"If they say we do not address them in French, they are right, but if they tell you that they don't get attention, that is not (right), to my knowledge, because when they come for documents, we give them what they want," she said.

Hoping to soothe tempers, Kotchi said the unrest was probably caused by Ivorian nationals frustrated by their refugee status in Liberia.

"They are hungry and need attention," he said. "I will try to repatriate them."

- AFP