France to 'restore calm' in Ivory Coast

France to 'restore calm' in Ivory Coast
http://english.aljazeera.net/NR/exeres/B1EAF23F-42C3-4F94-84F8-30C929F26049.htm

Friday 02 April 2004, 4:09 Makka Time, 1:09 GMT

France has agreed to conduct joint patrols with Ivory Coast's army in an
effort to restore calm after deadly clashes involving security forces and
protesters, the West African country has announced.

The government in the world's top cocoa grower also said on Thursday it
backed an international investigation into last week's violence following
widespread accusations that security forces and loyalist militia killed
unarmed opposition supporters.

The government appeared to be trying to regain favor in the international
arena, where it has been widely criticized recently by human rights groups
and Western governments, including former colonial power France.

Last week's clashes in the main city Abidjan were a low point in efforts to
build peace after a civil war was declared over in July. The country remains
politically polarized and divided between the rebel-held north and
government-run south.

"The president of the republic, in agreement with the prime minister ... has
asked France and (West African peacekeepers) MICECI to help the defense and
security forces assure security," Internal Security Minister Martin Bleou said.

"France has just given its agreement," he told state television.

First step

The top UN representative in Ivory Coast welcomed the announcement. The
world body is due to take command of some 1400 West African troops in the
country as the first step in creating a larger peacekeeping mission, which
starts on Sunday.

At the United Nations in New York, UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan told the
Security Council that 10 countries would provide military personnel:
Bangladesh, Benin, France, Ghana, Morocco, Niger, Pakistan, Senegal, Togo
and Ukraine.

Annan's letter named Gen. Abdoulaye Fall of Senegal as commander of the
force, authorized to reach 6240 personnel.

The 4,000 French troops in the country will not become part of the UN force,
but their mission is authorized by the Security Council. But France will
dispatch a 170-member engineering company, about 10 police and officers for
a headquarters staff to the UN mission.

Ivory Coast's conflict has pitted supporters of President Laurent Gbagbo
from the richer, mainly Christian and animist south against people from the
poorer mainly Muslim north of the country and the recent violence has
heightened tension between the communities.

Last week's killings came after opposition supporters tried to defy an
official ban to march against Gbagbo.

Morgue officials have said at least 104 people were killed in the city.
Police have given a death toll of 37, including two policemen, while the
opposition says more than 300 people were killed -- mostly in reprisal
killings after the aborted march.

Reuters


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