Côte d'Ivoire General pledge loyalty President - Houston Chronicle

ABIDJAN, C?te d'Ivoire - five generals promised their loyalty President Alassane Ouattara Tuesday after the capture of leader of the strong man of the country after a four-month impasse, as the French and Ivorian forces worked to eliminate the last pockets of resistance.

Ouattara Patrick Achi spokesman confirmed that the generals who had fought with Laurent Gbagbo right up until his capture jure allegiance before Ouattara one by one, to the hotel of the golf course, where he implemented his presidency after having Gbagbo refused to recognize lost the November presidential elections.

DOH Ouattara, a member of the team of hotel security, said that Gbagbo, his wife and his entourage were in a suite of y. He said lower-level officials traveling with Gbagbo had been sealed within the bar of the luxury hotel.

Spokesperson of Assistant to the United Nations Farhan Haq, said that "contrary to previous information, Laurent Gbagbo remains the hotel of the golf course in Abidjan". He provided no further explanation. Earlier Tuesday, Haq had said that Gbagbo was not to the hotel of the Golf plus and a place not to be disclosed outside Abidjan. It was not clear steps that led to the confusion.

More than 1 million civilians have fled their homes and untold numbers were killed in the struggle for power in addition to four months between the two rivals. The standoff threatened to re-ignite a civil war in world cocoa producer, once divided into two by violence almost a decade earlier.

Veterans armed feral still in the streets of Abidjan, even after that Gbagbo was arrested by the forces of choirs Ouattara. Residents, said that most of the fighting had stopped Tuesday, although sporadic shooting continued and left people curled in their homes.

During this time, veterans pro-Ouattara siroté French champagne on occasion, while the other was proudly wearing a short black wig, that said, belonged to by Gbagbo's wife, Simone.

In the South of the country, the celebrations of the arrest of Gbagbo continued Tuesday in the export of cocoa port of San Pedro. People blocked the road for double-lane as they sang, danced and sang, "Gbagbo is a thief."

Women created a new dance with branches of trees and brooms and sings: "we have swept Gbagbo." We are ready to welcome A.D.O., our President, "referring to Ouattara by his initials."

During this time, an ally of Gbagbo high accused pro-Ouattara forces of looting the homes of political rivals.

"I get distress calls from everywhere in the city of members of the party who fear for their lives,", said the former Minister of Foreign Affairs of Gbagbo, Alcide Djédjé. "Myself, I was forced to flee my home at looters in uniform." While the looting was going on, I managed to hide from neighbours until United Nations peacekeepers United came to me. ?

Gbagbo's security forces were charged with the use of mortars and machine guns to mow opponents despite the impasse. Gbagbo could be forced to answer for crimes of his soldiers, but an international test threat feed divisions which Ouattara will now have to heal as President.

Ouattara cut short speculation that Gbagbo would be delivered to the International Criminal Court in the Hague, asking an Ivorian investigation in the former President, his wife and their entourage. Ouattara has also called on his supporters to refrain from violent reprisals and stated that his intention to establish a truth and reconciliation commission.

"All measures have been taken to ensure the physical integrity of Mr. Laurent Gbagbo, his wife and all those arrested," he said. "They will receive a dignified treatment and their rights will be respected."

Foreign Affairs French Minister Alain Juppe said on radio France-Info that France "will certainly not be (Gbagbo) in." Let's not complicate things. "Gbagbo had then spent years abroad in France before the arrival to power as President.

The former colonizer also said Tuesday that it scale back its military force in C?te d'Ivoire and give euro400 million ($580 million) aid to restore public services and to stimulate the economy of the country.

In Geneva, spokesman for the United Nations human rights office Ravina Shamdasani said that the Office had learned that an undetermined number of forces of Gbagbo had been arrested.

"It's not clear where they were taken and how they are treated," she said. "Our staff of the droits de l'homme in Abidjan is to research in this and monitoring it.". International standards of fair trial include the need to prosecute as soon as possible after the arrest. ?

Gbagbo, who reigned on the former French colony since a decade, was fired from his residence fire by Ouattara Monday after fighting troops earlier in the day. Pro-Ouattara forces had received the support of French tanks and helicopters.

Gbagbo's dramatic arrest came after days of fierce fighting in which French and United Nations helicopters fired rockets on deposits of weapons around the city and targets in the presidential compound. Final assault of the Ouattara begins just after the French air strikes ceased to 3 hours of the morning Monday. A simultaneous French armoured advance guaranteed large parts of the city, and pro-Ouattara troops entered the presidential compound just after noon.

Ivory Coast has been divided into a North under rebel control and a Loyalist South in a civil war in 2002-2003 and was officially reunited in 2007 peace agreement. Long delayed presidential election was intended to bring together the nation, but instead unleashed months of violence.

Gbagbo had already dragged his five-year term when he called the election of the fall and won 46% of the runoff vote. When the country's electoral commission and international observers have declared December 2 that he lost the election, he refused to resign.

Professor of ancient history challenged almost universal international pressure to deliver power to Ouattara. Both put in place parallel administrations which vied for control of the one-time West African economic powerhouse.

Ouattara has drawn its support of the United Nations and world powers. Gbagbo has maintained its grip on the military and security of the country which has carried out a campaign of terror, kidnapping, killing and raping opponents.

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Writers press associated with Rukmini Callimachi in Indianapolis. Michelle Faul in San Pedro, Ivory Coast. Edith M. Lederer at the United Nations. Frank Jordans in Geneva; Angela Charlton in Paris. and photographer Rebecca Blackwell in Abidjan has contributed to this report.

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Côte d'Ivoire: UN and France launch reprisals on Gbagbo attacks - The Guardian

Troops loyal to Alassane Ouattara were accused of atrocities in the West of the coutntry in their thrust in Abidjan. Photo: AFP/Sia Kambou/Getty Images

Helicopters of the United Nations and the French fired rockets at the residence of Laurent Gbagbo in an attack that the United Nations said was in retaliation for assaults committed by its forces on the headquarters of the United Nations and civilian.

At least six French and two United Nations helicopters were involved in the attack, authorized by the Secretary General, Ban Ki-moon. He accused Gbagbo of using heavy weapons against civilians of C?te d'Ivoire and the forces of the United Nations tries to protect.

"United Nations helicopters and the French continue to fire at the residence of President Gbagbo, which was partly destroyed," the Mello Ahoua Don Gbagbo spokesman told Reuters. "There is a thick smoke from it, but we have no other details on the damage." He did not say if Gbagbo was in residence at the time.

Abidjan remains on razor Sunday, without end to a civil war in C?te d'Ivoire. There is growing evidence of atrocities committed on both sides, with unable to make a statement important peacekeepers 9,000 of the United Nations. What seemed to be a morally simple contest between the Democrats and the dictator becomes completely blurred.

The reputation of Alassane Ouattara, internationally recognised winner of the election of last November, has taken a serious violence against these days. A report by Human Rights Watch - detailed Saturday in the Guardian - said forces loyal to killed hundreds of civilians, raped Ouattara supporters of his rival and burned villages in the West of the country. Survivors described how soldiers "summarily executed and raped supporters of Gbagbo perceived in their homes, as they worked in the fields, as they fled, or while they tried to hide in the Bush."

These claims have the potential to damage the United Nations, EU and African Union, which all approved Ouattara, as the legitimate President and most of all the French, which launched air strikes against the military of Gbagbo week continued last night, and which seems more deeply mired in conflict by the day. But there was still no sign of remorse.

Ouattara has long tried to dissociate the rebels focused on North who fought a brief civil war almost a decade previously that divided the country. These fighters have accused of numerous atrocities in time. But it seems to change tack as the rebels, which he renamed "Republican Forces", began their lightning assault against Gbagbo.

Ouattara has promised will be the subject of human rights violations and the perpetrators punished, regardless of their allegiance. Apollinaire Yapi, a spokesman for his military commander Guillaume Soro, said: "there are accusations of abuse here and there." Mr. Ouattara said that they must be condemned, those who did them.

"It was reported in the West that there was a massacre." It will be an investigation in which has done what, a group close to Ouattara forces or forces of Gbagbo. Prior to this investigation, no conclusion can be drawn. ?

Yapi defended the conduct of the troops of the Ouattara. "Our forces do not abuse." There may be people who made this or that. It is a major concern for Mr. Ouattara. It does not follow that its mandate be spoiled by these abuses. One who is responsible is punished. ?

Human Rights Watch led calls for Ouattara to take a firm position. His research in C?te d'Ivoire, Matt Wells, said that it would still take the benefit of the doubt.

"For us, the question of legitimacy depends whether if he fulfils his promise to open a credible investigation of the atrocities on both sides," he said.

"He has include the prosecution of those who have committed atrocities and commanders who supervised the." Since it has been said things, he deserves the first opportunity to show that there is a credible investigation. If not, then return to mechanisms for international justice.

Hamadoun Toure, a spokesman for the mission of the United Nations in C?te d'Ivoire, said: "we still study the level of atrocities committed during the last four months." A full report will be published at the end. ?

Gbagbo's forces have been involved in abuse since the post-election crisis, Wells added, while Ouattara is more directly related to the military campaign in the West. "You wouldn't necessarily equate the two but the violations committed by the troops of the Ouattara are racking.". Is impossible to work the numbers on each side. ?

Wells made pas take to the United Nations for not having to intervene. "It's a very difficult situation for the United Nations." They are the target themselves. They have been very proactive in the investigation of these cases - they have sent a team to the West immediately. There is very little to criticize harshly on the side of the United Nations. We hope that their latest peacekeepers will be deployed in the most vulnerable areas. ?

The United States also congratulated the position of the Ouattara so far. "We welcome the statement of the President Ouattara of the need for credible investigations into the violations committed by any party and welcomed its commitment to govern for all Ivorians, said Mark Toner, the State Department acting Deputy spokesman.

The Assistant Secretary General for the rights of man, Ivan Simonovic, raised the issue of civilian deaths with Ouattara and Gbagbo senior Assistant when he was in Ivory Coast last week.

Ouattara has subsequently appeared on national television and urged his supporters, and all other Ivorians to refrain from committing crimes or acts of revenge and said that those who had done will be punished.

But Antony Goldman, an analyst with London PM Consulting West Africa, said that the situation could be independent of the will of the two leaders. "Main regret should be all who made this crisis becoming a disaster.". "There was an absence of any intervention after the election to resolve the problem, particularly of the African Union," he said, adding: "the lack of leadership in the first three months of this year in Ivory Coast has created all conditions for this type of violence." It went beyond Gbagbo and Ouattara. "Violence is so polarized and there is no sense of each side of the Middle".

A recurring aspect of violence has been the use of mercenaries from Liberia, appears to have been recruited by the two parties to the conflict.

The two presidential rivals are now at an impasse in their respective headquarters in Abidjan: Gbagbo in his bunker in the presidential residence defended by about 1000 men, Ouattara in Hotel Golf under protection of the United Nations.

The hotel was attacked late Saturday and a peacekeeper was injured. A spokesman Hamadoun Toure said rockets and mortars landed in the grounds of the hotel shortly after the UN forces were attacked near. A peacekeeper was evacuated to the Hospital of serious injuries.

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Lens: A lens on Côte d'Ivoire

Jane Hahn, 32, has been covering the conflict in C?te d'Ivoire since March 31. Ms. Hahn, a freelance photographer, is based in Accra, Ghana. She spoke to Kerri MacDonald late Friday afternoon from Abidjan, where she is staying in a camp of Jordanian United Nations peacekeeping.

Following his remarks, edited and condensed.

I came here on the last commercial flight to Accra, last Thursday. My initial plan was to join the rebels with other journalists. But when I arrived first, I was told not to try leaving the airport. It has proved it changed hands between Gbagbo's forces and the forces of the United Nations. There was a little bit of fighting outside. I have noticed, there were four carriers of personnel of the United Nations armoured sitting on the front. I grabbed my camera to run out when I saw a few other foreigners speaking with them. I jumped in and brings back me to their battalion. I have been with them since.

I have no idea how others got out of the airport later. Even today, the airport road is a little dangerous. At the time, it was really dangerous.

I felt comfortable coming here because I have been covering since the elections in C?te d'Ivoire. I have been familiar with the layout of Abidjan. I realized that I was actually in a unique position, so I decided to stick it.

Today, for the first time since I've been here, we had the chance to take a patrol to the headquarters of the United Nations. It is across the city, where most of the hotels are, and the Presidential Palace. It is extremely volatile. But today, it seems pretty calm. More people were sitting outside, or going to market to try to get some food. Everyone has to welcome the convoy of the United Nations - with a smile, with thumbs up, with cheers - and it was really very pleasant. When people see the convoy of the United Nations from, many of them raise their hands to show that they are not carrying weapons. Young men will raise their shirts. people held their hands out the window.

Unfortunately, we led problems on the way back. In Abidjan, there are snipers in some buildings that have been abandoned. As we driving, one of the Blue Helmets heard that there are some people in the building. I heard shots and dropped to the bottom inside the tank. This is the problem now - few days there will be fighting and there will be a few days of quiet. Things are now a bit of calm, but the UN is a very large target. These are strangers.

I am extremely grateful for the blue helmets of the United Nations, because without them, I would be unable to work. They were always very hospitable. They shared their food. they shared their water. Commander abandoned his dormitory for a group of displaced Lebanese community. There was an evacuation, there are fewer people who live there now, but at some point, I think that there are probably twenty.

Jane Hahn April 7: Moustapha Ramadan helps a young Lebanese girl of a United Nations vehicle Jordanian as foreigners are evacuated to Abidjan.

There are days where it is still too dangerous for peace out. The United Nations, of NGOs, the French - almost all foreigners, and particularly journalists, are targets. In January and March, it was extremely difficult, but now it is literally impossible out without any kind of armoured vehicle.

The most difficult seeks photos that illustrate the situation. Yet, I am in a unique position, but the majority of journalists are either blocked hotels or just outside the city limits. There are a couple of local Ivorian photographers who are able to move more freely, but as a stranger, really, this is an incredibly frustrating situation. There are many scenes that I want to get close, but I can't stop to see what happens. I try and catch what I can.

I even not seeking out of shots really great; I am looking to get something. When I was here in January and March, I have worked extensively with Rebecca Blackwell. At the time, you had only a few minutes to draw. It was very frustrating to get something really good. We were just happy to get something. Now, you have no time at all. It is not yet to obtain good photography; It is the obtaining of any type of photo.

It is just an incredible city. It is used to take into account the Paris of West Africa. To see what has happened over the years, particularly in the last few months, it's really very shocking.

Jane Hahn/Associated Press April 4: United Nations peacekeepers provide security during the night in the streets of Abidjan.

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Clock the count for the refugees in Côte d'Ivoire

Oxfam said more than 100 000 people crossed the border of C?te d'Ivoire, Liberia displaced families by the fighting are walking for four days to reach the Liberian border refugees are sharing homes in border villages with more than 30 people, said Oxfam, the rainy season will be difficult to provide assistance to these remote jungle villages

(CNN) - helps organizations warn of an impending humanitarian crisis for tens of thousands of refugees who have arrived in Liberia after fleeing the violence in C?te d'Ivoire.

International aid agency Oxfam said more than 100 000 people crossed the border of C?te d'Ivoire, Liberia and live in terrible conditions in the villages of the jungle.

The Agency said there are many stories of wives separated from husband, children arriving in Liberia having lost their parents and some do not survive the journey through forests and water courses.

Refugees have been displaced by the fighting that has swept of C?te d'Ivoire. The International Committee of the Red Cross said Friday that 800 people had been slaughtered in the town of Duékoué West cocoa producers. An official of the United Nations put the number of dead at 330 Friday.

The violence erupted after that a contested November election led incumbent Laurent Gbagbo and rival Alassane Ouattara, to claim the Presidency. The international community has recognised Ouattara as legitimate winner but Gbagbo refused to relinquish power, and violence has wracked the nation.

Background on what is the origin of the conflict in C?te d'Ivoire.

The rainy season passes approaches and fighting in the country that oxfam launches a warning this time is measured to get aid to the refugees living in these remote villages.

When the rains come, we will not be able to achieve with help because the entire area will become inaccessible.
-Caroline Gluck, Oxfam, Liberia

"When the rains come, us will not be able to reach them with aid because the entire area will become inaccessible,", said Caroline Gluck, who works for Oxfam in Liberia. "Time is short to bring people to areas safe and accessible".

She added that the influx of refugees are to double the population of some of the border villages and exerts enormous pressure on the premises, which have little food and facilities themselves.

Gluck interviewed some of those escaping from C?te d'Ivoire, among them Gustave Glawoulou, whose hometown of Blolequin was attacked by rebel forces. Gluck said that he fled in the middle of the night with her five children when the shooting began.

Glawoulou said Gluck he walked four days with his family to the Liberian border. They were all they had to eat things, they found in the forest. Now, in a border village called Ponah, he said that the conditions are very difficult.

"There are 35 of us who live in a house;" If it's not raining, we can go outside, but when it rains, we remain domestic Crouching on a standing - sitting mat there is no bedroom, "he said Gluck."

"We would like to leave this place because there are too many of us and it is getting worse every day," he told Glawoulou. "After two or three months it could get very hard as people will start to get more ill because of the bad food and shelter."

CNN could not independently verify this account.

Gluck explained that most of the refugees left the border villages because they are close to their homes and because they think they can find work he and lead a relatively normal life.

She said that many are reluctant to go to camps where they feel that no there is no economic opportunities.

The International Committee of the Red Cross also works with the Ivorian refugees in Liberia. Too, he warns that the growing number of refugees places a heavy burden on host communities Liberian and said that he has recorded more than 50 children of refugees who have been separated from their parents.

Plan international, an organization working in Liberia, reported that some young people are completely traumatized by their experiences.

"Through the border of Liberia in Nimba County, I have met children of refugees who could not smile and was unable to play." They were too shocked by the violence they had seen, "said Berenger Berehoudougou of the group."

Plan also says that it is mainly women and children crossing the border of C?te d'Ivoire. "I have not seen that a few men.". I don't know what happened to the men and boys, "said Berehoudougou. "Some young people told me their brothers and fathers are fighting for one of the parties to the conflict in C?te d'Ivoire." "But no one seems sure of what is happening in their country of origin", he added.

Gluck said another refugee that she had spoken 15 years, Stephane Ranhou, happened at the border village of Janzon, in southeastern Liberia, with his young sister Vanessa. Gluck said that they had become separated from their parents and brothers and seven sisters as they escaped the fighting in Doku and were now fed by local families.

"The villagers have their own problems but they have been very generous opening up their homes and giving shelter to refugees - there is a serious shortage of food, shelter and medical care." Gluck said.

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