African leaders travel to Côte d'Ivoire to repeat demands to Gbagbo

[News_Editor]

African leaders travel to Côte d'Ivoire to repeat demands to Gbagbo

2011-01-04 06:03:31 GMT+7 (ICT)

ABIDJAN, COTE D'IVOIRE (BNO NEWS) -- A delegation of African officials on Monday arrived to Côte d'Ivoire (Ivory Coast) in order to repeat demands to former President Laurent Gbagbo to cede power and let president-elect Alassane Ouattara begin his term, Radio France Internationale (RFI) reported.

The delegation is led by African Union mediator and Kenyan Prime Minister Raila Odinga and is joined by three regional presidents, Benin's Boni Yayi, Sierra Leone's Ernest Koroma and Cape Verde's Pedro Pires.

On January 1, Gbagbo failed to comply with a deadline to transfer power peacefully, which resulted in the gathering of military commanders in order tom plan a military intervention to remove the former president if needed.

The four officials are representing the 15-nation Economic Community of West African States (Ecowas). The delegation stated that they are not negotiating as their stand remains the same as before.

The leaders of Benin, Sierra Leone, Cape Verde and Kenya met with Gbagbo in Abidjan, the capital of Côte d'Ivoire, and after that went to a meeting with president-elect Ouattara.

This is the second visit to Abidjan by Pires, Yayi and Koroma since the disputed election. Odinga was appointed by the African Union as the negotiator for a solution to the Ivorian crisis.

Details of both Monday's meetings were not disclosed but the African leaders said they were "useful." Ecowas intends to allow Gbagbo an honorable exit if he agrees to cede power in a peaceful manner.

Following the controversy, violence erupted in Côte d'Ivoire and civil war is feared. Ecowas has warned that they had began preparations for a military intervention but remarked that it would be its latest resource.

More than 170 people have been killed and more than 20,000 Ivorian refugees have fled to neighboring countries, especially Liberia, since the violence began between the Army controlled by Gbagbo and Ouattara's supporters including UN peacekeepers.

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