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UN restates support for Ouattara in Ivory Coast

11 January 2011 04:28 (UTC +04:00)

Baku-APA. The UN Security Council reaffirmed its support for Alissane Ouattara who has been recognized internationally as Ivory Coast’s new president, and again urged a peaceful end to the African nation’s political crisis, APA reports quoting The Associated Press.

"The members of the Security Council condemned attacks against peacekeepers and civilians," they said in a statement.

The council added: "Those responsible for crimes against UN personnel and civilians must be held accountable."

Ouattara is willing to work as president in a unity government with Laurent Gbagbo’s camp if the strongman drops his claim to power, the country’s UN envoy has said.

Youssoufou Bamba, recently appointed as Ivory Coast’s ambassador to the United Nations, urged Gbagbo to recognise Ouattara as the "legitimate president" following disputed elections, in an interview with the BBC released Monday.

"And from there, Mr. Gbagbo is not alone," he told the British broadcaster. "He has followers, he has competent people in his party. Those people, we are prepared to work with them. In the framework of a wide composite cabinet."

Ouattara was recognized overwhelmingly as the winner of November 28 presidential polls in the west African nation, but incumbent Laurent Gbagbo also claims to have won the vote and is refusing to give up power.

"The members of the Security Council underscored their strong desire that the political crisis in CÃ´te d’Ivoire be resolved peacefully," it said in its statement.

The council said it was prepared "to impose measures including targeted sanctions against persons who threaten the peace process, obstruct the work of" the UN mission.

Ouattara has been protected at the besieged Golf Hotel in Abidjan by around 800 UN peacekeepers as well as the ex-rebel New Forces allied with his camp since troops shot dead several of his supporters on December 16.

Speaking from UN headquarters in New York, Bamba said Ouattara could work with Gbagbo but rejected comparisons with the situation in Kenya and Zimbabwe, where power-sharing governments were formed followed disputed polls.

"Yes he could work with him [Gbagbo]. Because he is an Ivorian citizen," he was cited as saying.

"What I am saying should be clear. The win by Mr. Ouattara could not be put into question anymore. That, if Mr. Gbagbo accepts that, we could negotiate. Otherwise, I could not understand how it could be otherwise."

If Gbagbo gave up his claim to power, that would be "the starting point" for negotiations, said the envoy.

"I think from there, everything is open. It?s on the table. But first of all Mr. Gbagbo should step down," he added.

Bamba, Ouattara’s internationally recognised ambassador, handed over his credentials as envoy to UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon at the end of last month.

The envoy underlined his concerns about alleged human rights violations in the wake of the disputed poll, but suggested cooperation was still possible.

"What I am saying, the crimes perpetrated... are true. There is massive violation of human rights, that?s true," he was cited as saying.

"But you know in politics, life goes on," Bamba continued. "You have to, at some point, envisage how you are, because you are condemned to live together."

Repeated attempts by regional leaders to find a solution to the stand-off in Ivory Coast have so far floundered and the crisis has seen at least 210 people killed.

Ouattara is protected at the besieged Golf Hotel in Abidjan by around 800 UN peacekeepers as well as the ex-rebel New Forces allied with his camp since troops shot dead several of his supporters on December 16.

Former Nigerian president Olusegun Obasanjo was the latest regional figure to attempt to mediate the crisis. He left Ivory Coast Monday after two days trying to find a way through the deadlock.