I Coast protests cause concern

2006-01-17 07:16

New York - The United Nations expressed concerns on Monday about attacks on UN property in the Ivory Coast by demonstrators protesting a UN-backed group's support for dissolving the country's parliament.

"The UN operation in (Ivory Coast) today reports continued protests against the recommendations by the International Working Group that the parliament be dissolved," said UN spokesperson Stephane Dujarric.

"Demonstrators are currently in front of the UN mission and four UN vehicles have been damaged. No UN personnel have been reported injured," he said.

"The mission is concerned about the attacks on UN property. It says the demonstrations are in contravention of (Ivorian) President (Laurent) Gbagbo's decree against demonstrations in Abidjan," Dujarric said.

The spokesperson added that the UN special representative in the Ivory Coast, Pierre Schori, was returning to New York for talks on the situation.

Hundreds of demonstrators brought Abidjan to a halt on Monday with protests after a call by the UN-mandated International Working Group for Ivory Coast's parliament to be wound up after the end of its term last month.

- AFP