Tuesday, January 4, 2011

The two candidates for president of Ivory Coast meet accepted

Laurent Gbagbo and Raila Odinga, who maintain a pulse for the presidency of the Ivory Coast have agreed to meet. According to the African Union mediator, Kenyan Prime Minister, this meeting would be subject to the fulfillment of "certain conditions" not yet specified. The deal comes just hours after another failed attempt by the international community to Laurent Gbagbo cede the presidency to Ouattara, who won the election.

The presidents of Benin, Cape Verde and Sierra Leone and Kenya's prime minister traveled to the country yesterday to offer immunity from prosecution in exchange for the presidency peacefully yield Ouattara, recognized as the winner of the second round of voting on 28 November but failed to convince.

"This is the summary of today's meeting: Gbagbo has refused to resign," he told Efe, without explanation, a source from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS). It was last attempt to persuade Gbagbo and prevent a recurrence of civil war (2002-007) who left the country divided and controlled in the south by the armed and security forces loyal to Gbagbo, and northern New Forces Soro, who were disarmed after the conflict and support to Ouattara.

Gbagbo has so far rejected all calls to recognize his defeat in the elections on November 28 against Ouattara. And has ignored international condemnation and threats to oust him by force. But the mission was launched on Monday with hopes. "There are indications that Gbagbo would accept a resignation, but wants assurances it will not be prosecuted for human rights violations or similar offenses he leaves office," he told Efe the source of ECOWAS before the visit, remembering what happened former Liberian President Charles Taylor, who agreed to resign and be given asylum in Nigeria, but is being tried by the tribunal in The Hague.

In addition, Gbagbo wants to keep its foreign accounts now blocked, at least in the U.S. and the European Union, and "that his main supporters have a place in the new government" of Ouattara, the source said. Military intervention The presidents of Benin, Cape Verde and Sierra Leone and were on Tuesday in Ivory Coast and warned that ECOWAS can use military force to compel him to leave office if not delivered to Ouattara.

The mission was joined Monday Raila Odinga, Kenyan Prime Minister of the AU envoy, who on Sunday met in Abuja with Nigerian President and holder of the rotating ECOWAS, Goodluck Jonathan, to coordinate their positions. Beninese President said after the meeting with Gbagbo talks continue, but other sources, including fellow Sierra Leone, say that this was the last visit.

ECOWAS must now decide, probably on Tuesday, the next step, after the mission to Abidjan has informed Jonathan as current president of the West African bloc. Military commanders in the region completed the details of a possible intervention against Gbagbo during a two-day meeting held last week in Abuja.

"The plan (military) are ready, activate it only remains," said the spokesman for the ECOWAS Commission, Sunny Ugoh.

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