Côte d'Ivoire: UN convoy attacked

A convoy of UN mission in Côte d'Ivoire has been attacked in Abidjan Tuesday, December 28, by a "crowd". One peacekeeper was wounded with machetes and burned a vehicle in the incident, said the UN Operation in Côte d'Ivoire (UNOCI). "A convoy of three vehicles carrying 22 ONUCI peacekeepers was attacked Tuesday" in the popular district of Yopougon (west) when he came from inside the country, said a statement.

"A large crowd surrounded the convoy, wounding a soldier in the arm with a machete and burning one of three vehicles," says UNOCI. The site of France 24 Observer published several photos of the vehicle on fire. According to the mission, the situation is "back to normal" by the intervention of General Philippe Mangou, Chief of Staff of forces loyal to incumbent President Laurent Gbagbo, whose district is a stronghold of Yopougon.

UNOCI "strongly condemns the attack and reiterated its determination to continue its work on behalf of the Ivorian people This incident occurred when three West African presidents were in Côte d'Ivoire Laurent Gbagbo to convince to cede power to his rival Alassane Ouattara. Commissioned by the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), the presidents of Benin Boni Yayi, Ernest Koroma of Sierra Leone and Cape Verde Pedro Pires left the country on Wednesday morning.

Nothing has leaked on the talks they had with Mr. Gbagbo, Ouattara Alasanne with neither. "Everything went well," simply said to the press Beninese President Boni Yayi. The Heads of State of Benin, Cape Verde and Sierra Leone, mandated by ECOWAS, met Laurent Gbagbo, to convince him to leave the Ivorian presidency, Dec.

28. AP / Sunday Alamba Laurent Gbagbo has used the media ballet that takes place in Côte d'Ivoire to brandish the threat of diplomatic sanctions against countries that call to relinquish power. A government spokesman has promised on television to sever diplomatic ties and send ambassadors to all states that recognize the ambassadors appointed by his rival Alassane Ouattara.

France, which is in the process of approving a new ambassador, seems especially targeted The government spokesman Ouattara, Patrick Achi, said his side that "the status of President of the Republic of Alassane Ouattara [being ] not negotiable. " The only questionb, in his view, is "now negotiate terms of departure of former President Laurent Gbagbo." Concession Gbagbo camp on Tuesday, a large gathering of "young patriots" fervent supporters of Gbagbo, originally scheduled for Wednesday in Abidjan has been postponed.

"There is postponed to give diplomacy a chance to start," said Charles Ble Goude, their leader, adding that he would not give his opponents "the opportunity to succeed in their civil war."

• Côte d'Ivoire suspended from African Union (11/12/2010)
• Uncertain Election Results in Côte d'Ivoire Leave the Country on Edge (11/12/2010)
• Côte d'Ivoire: Ivorian Internet Users Fear a New Era of Terror in Abidjan (20/12/2010)
• This Round Goes to South Korea (20/12/2010)
• Calamitous Côte d'Ivoire: Another big test for Africa (09/12/2010)