Fears of military intervention grow in Ivory Coast

FEARS of a regional military intervention grew yesterday in Ivory Coast following a threat from West African neighbours to force out incumbent leader Laurent Gbagbo if he does not soon heed international calls to step down from power.

Dozens of people gathered outside the Nigerian Embassy in Abidjan, holding signs that read: “We don’t want a military intervention” and “Let Ivorians solve Ivorian problems.”

Nigeria has the strongest army in the region and is expected to play a major role if an operation is launched to oust Gbagbo.

Nigerians gathered outside the embassy said they feared they could be targeted in retaliatory violence if Nigeria and other neighbours intervene in the month-long political crisis.

Three presidents from the regional bloc ECOWAS are headed to Abidjan this week to confront Gbagbo before any intervention would go forward.

The UN declared that Alassane Ouattara won the presidential runoff election held nearly one month ago, but Gbagbo refuses to concede defeat and leave, despite admonitions from the UN, United States, European Union and the African Union. Ouattara’s supporters called for a general strike to begin yesterday to step up the pressure, but shops were open and it was business as usual in central Abidjan by midmorning.

In an interview with Associated Press Television News on Sunday, Gbagbo said he was not concerned about world opinion, insisting he was duly elected. He said of his detractors: “Maybe they do not want me, I admit it, but I am not looking to be loved by them. I respect and abide by the Ivorians’ vote.”

The UN has said at least 173 people have been killed in violence over the vote.