Riots break out in I Coast

2006-01-17 08:02

Parfait Kouassi

Abidjan - Hundreds of angry demonstrators erected roadblocks across Ivory Coast's main city and destroyed UN vehicles to protest a decision by an international group mediating in the civil war-divided country.

Up to 2 000 protesters took to the streets of government-held Abidjan on Monday after UN-backed mediators said over the weekend that the West African nation's parliament should be dissolved since its mandate expired last month.

A new vote is scheduled next year.

"This is just the beginning of many demonstrations to tell the international community to go home. We want to fix this crisis among us Ivorians," said Serge Koffi, leader of a youth group often involved in Abidjan's violent protests.

Rioters destroyed five UN vehicles, burning one to cinders, said the UN. There were no immediate reports of injuries.

Many government supporters accuse the United Nations and other international mediators of favouring rebels who seized the north during a 2002-2003 civil war.

Ten thousand UN and French peacekeepers are providing security in Ivory Coast and attempting to move the country toward an elusive peace foreseen under several accords.

Despite the deals, the world's largest cocoa exporter and former French colony remains divided and tense with armed forces still bearing weapons on either side of front lines.

- AP