UN's Ban 'deeply alarmed' by call for violence in Côte d'Ivoire

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UN's Ban 'deeply alarmed' by call for violence in Côte d'Ivoire

2010-12-31 12:16:58 GMT+7 (ICT)

ABIDJAN (BNO NEWS) -- United Nations (UN) Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Thursday said he is 'deeply alarmed' by a Côte d'Ivoire (Ivory Coast) minister's call to attack the headquarters of President-elect Alassane Ouattara.

Côte d'Ivoire has been thrust into political uncertainty and violence after president Laurent Gbagbo refused to concede electoral defeat in last month's run-off elections. The UN and the international community has endorsed the victory of opposition leader and President-elect Alassane Ouattara, despite Gbagbo's claim to have won.

On Wednesday, Youth and Employment Minister Charles Blé Goudé called on the so-called Young Patriots to attack the Golf Hotel in Abidjan on Saturday and 'liberate' it with their 'bare hands'. The Golf Hotel is currently being used as Ouattara's headquarters.

"The Secretary-General remains very concerned about the deteriorating situation in Côte d'Ivoire," said Martin Nesirky, Ban's personal spokesman. "He is deeply alarmed to learn of the call by Mr. Blé Goudé on the so called Young Patriots to attack the Golf Hotel in Abidjan beginning on 1 January."

Ban further reminded that the United Nations Operation in Côte d'Ivoire (UNOCI) has a 9,000-strong force in the African country and is tasked with providing security for Ouattara's government and other key political stakeholders. "He also stresses that UNOCI is authorized to use all necessary means to protect its personnel, as well as the Government officials and other civilians at these premises of the hotel," Nesirky added.

He added: "The Secretary-General therefore wishes to warn that any attack against peacekeepers constitutes a crime under international law, for which the perpetrators and those who instigate them will be held accountable."

The United Nations believes that an attack on the Golf Hotel could provoke widespread violence which can reignite a civil war. "[ban] calls on all those who may be contemplating participation in the attack to refrain from such dangerous irresponsible action," Nesirky said, adding that Ban is urging 'all the peace-loving' citizens of the country to contribute instead to the restoration of lasting stability and democracy.

According to human rights officers, at least 173 people have been killed in political violence between December 16 and December 21. In addition, there have been reports of at least 90 instances of torture and ill treatment, 471 arrests and detentions and 24 cases of enforced or involuntary disappearances. There have also been reports of sexual abuse.

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