Fighting erupts in Côte d'Ivoire after controversial elections

Fighting erupts in Côte d'Ivoire after controversial elections

2010-12-14 03:55:47 GMT+7 (ICT)

ABIDJAN, COTE D’IVOIRE (BNO NEWS) -- Côte d'Ivoire President Laurent Gbagbo on Monday launched a nationalist counterattack on rallying supporters as he continues to reject the results of the presidential elections that resulted in the victory of opposition rival Alassane Ouattara, the local Daily Nation reported.

Ouattara has the support of the international community, the African Union and the United Nations, which certified and ratified the former Prime Minister's victory, but Gbagbo still has the support of the Côte d'Ivoire army and the ports which are key for cocoa exports.

Incumbent President Laurent Gbagbo rejected the results announced by the Independent Electoral Commission and demanded the annulment of votes in some regions, alleging fraud. After Gbabgo's claims, the Constitutional Council reverted the decision and said that the current president was the winner of the polls.

The European Union announced that it is analyzing restrictive measures on those who refuse to submit to the election results. However, these threats have not impacted Gbagbo's supporters as they clashed with Ouatara's followers in the streets of Abidjan. No deaths were reported.

The EU measures also include a visa ban on anyone blocking the inauguration of Ouattara as the nations' new president and the withholding of $340 million in EU developmental aid. The sanctions will be imposed if Ouattara is prevented from assuming office.

Ouattara has the support of the United Nations' 10,000-strong peacekeeping force and former colonial power France's 900-strong Licorne detachment, which works under the same mandate in support of the UN mission.

The UN mission in Côte d'Ivoire (UNOCI) announced that there is absolutely no doubt that the opposition leader won the presidential elections. Y.J. Choi, the Special Representative for UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, on Wednesday detailed the methods used to certify and ratify the polls.

The Constitutional Council in the country, however, annulled results in seven regions and informed that Gbagbo won 51 percent of the votes as Ouattara won only 49 percent. Choi refuted Gbagbo's claims of irregularities point by point and noted that even if contested tally sheets were thrown out, it was still clear that Ouattara had won.

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