Gbagbo orders UN out of Ivory Coast

IVORY COAST: UN Chief Ban Ki-moon on Saturday rejected a demand that UN peacekeepers leave Ivory Coast, heightening the international confrontation with contested leader Laurent Gbagbo.

Gbagbo had earlier ordered UN and French peacekeepers out of the country, accusing them of backing rebel fighters supporting his rival Alassane Ouattara.

The demand for their "immediate" departure reflected the growing anger of Gbagbo's nationalist supporters, and came as his most notorious lieutenant urged young Ivorians to make ready to fight for their sovereignty.

But Ban condemned attacks on UN troops in the West African nation and warned of "consequences" for those behind such action.

The UN mission, UNOCI, "will fulfil its mandate and will continue to monitor and document any human rights violations, incitement to hatred and violence, or attacks on UN peacekeepers," Ban was quoted as saying in a statement.

The United Nations, United States, European Union and Ivory Coast's west African neighbours all demanded that Gbagbo cede power to Ouattara after both men claimed to have won last month's presidential election.

But the veteran strongman retains control of the official armed forces and his backers have vowed to fight on, turning their anger on UN peacekeepers, former colonial power France and Ouattara's own Ivorian supporters.

"The president of the Republic of the Ivory Coast has just asked for the immediate departure from Ivorian territory of UNOCI and the French forces that support it," Education Minister Jacqueline Lohoues-Oble said on Saturday.

As tension mounted between the two camps, Gbagbo's supporters accused the United Nations' 10,000-strong force and France's 900 troops in Ivory Coast of supporting pro-Ouattara rebel fighters. The spokeswoman repeated these claims and accused the UN mission of broadcasting rebel propaganda on its radio station to destabilise the country.

AFP