SA 'disqualified' as mediator

2005-09-16 21:31

Abidjan - An Ivorian opposition leader said on Friday that South Africa's role as mediator in its long-running dispute with the government was "discredited" and it had "disqualified" itself.

The comments come after the South African defence minister warned on Thursday that a period of transition from October 30 would herald "chaos" in the west African state, if elections could not be organised.

"The mediation lacks impartiality," the leader of the G7 opposition alliance Alphonse Djedje Mady told AFP, of South African President Thabo Mbeki's mediation role as mandated by the African Union in November.

"When you are in mediation, you try to bring the sides together, you don't weigh in with one side," he explained.

"The South African mediation is discrediting and disqualifying itself."

The G7 leader claimed this was "no different" to the line taken by the head of the ruling Ivorian Popular Front party, Pascal Affi N'Guessan, who said on Wednesday that the president's stepping aside would invite chaos.

The New Forces (FN) rebel movement is demanding that President Gbagbo step down in favour of a period of transition, which the president has rejected.

Last week UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan warned that holding presidential elections on October 30 would be impossible, due to a lack of co-operation and preparation.

The former French colony has been divided since a failed coup attempt in September 2002 and ensuing armed rebellion by the FN, which controls 60% of the country north of truce lines patrolled by UN and French forces.

- AFP