Machete-wielding mobs in Ivory Coast have been doing house-to-house searches to find and attack French citizens in the commercial capital, Abidjan. French peacekeepers there have moved 80-90 people to safer locations.
Posted on 11/07/2004 7:26:45 AM PST by LesbianThespianGymnasticMidget
Machete-wielding mobs in Ivory Coast have been doing house-to-house searches to find and attack French citizens in the commercial capital, Abidjan. French peacekeepers there have moved 80-90 people to safer locations.
France, the former colonial power, has sent in more troops to reinforce its 4,000-strong contingent in the country.
The troubles began after the French virtually wiped out the Ivorian air force following the death of nine peacekeepers in a government raid.
The mobs - supporters of President Laurent Gbagbo - have been looting and burning French property in the country.
Earlier claims, denied by Paris, said French troops had killed up to 30 unarmed Ivorian civilians protesting against the French action. But officials now speak of only two possible deaths.
The Ivorian air attack on the rebel town of Bouake broke a ceasefire signed in July 2003.
France's troops are there as part of a 10,000-strong UN force mandated to enforce a peace deal between rebels in the north and President Gbagbo's government in the south.
The UN Security Council moved swiftly to back the French action, and called on all sides to stop the fighting.
Looting
Thousands of people have responded to calls on state television and have been roaming the streets of Abidjan, setting up roadblocks of burning tyres across the city.
A crowd men armed with machetes and iron bars entered a neighbourhood near the city's main French military base, demanding to know if there were any French living in the district, the Associated Press news agency reported.
"We are all terrified, and try to reassure each other," one French resident said by telephone from his home elsewhere in the city.
Earlier, at least two French schools and a library were set alight and French property looted.
Overnight, thousands responded to calls by supporters of President Gbagbo to retake the airport, which was seized by the French on Saturday.
The BBC's James Copnall in Abidjan said a helicopter flew low over a bridge that splits the city, and fired warning shots as thousands of young men were trying to cross over.
President Gbagbo has appealed through a spokesman for an end to attacks on French interests pending an investigation into Saturday's events.
A government spokesman called the air raid in which the French soldiers died a mistake.
But parliament speaker Mamadou Coulibaly and other officials have been on the airwaves calling on the French to leave Ivory Coast - and on supporters to prepare for war.
"Today's events mark a point of change - Vietnam will be as nothing compared with what we are going to do here," Mr Coulibaly said on French Info radio in Paris.
29 Sept: Ivorian parliament fails to agree citizenship laws, which were a key requirement of the January 2003 peace deal
13 Oct: Ivorian rebels say they will not disarm, as planned, until immigration laws are changed
28 Oct: Vendors selling newspapers accused of supporting the opposition are attacked by pro-government militants in Abidjan and southern towns The New Forces order eight rebel ministers to return to the rebel-held north, saying it had discovered the government smuggling arms across its territory
4 Nov: Government launches air strikes on rebel-held territory in north
5 Nov: More government air strikes and clashes on the ground in north, as unrest erupts in Abidjan
6 Nov: French forces destroy five Ivorian air force aircraft after an air strike leaves French soldiers dead
Notice. You dont hear the USA protesting to France about their military actions in this mess.
The natives are restless.
Did this action pass the "Global Test"? Did anyone ask America's opinion on this matter?
Well, frick!!!
There goes our family vacation!!!
And yet another successful UN peacekeeping mission!
French had to send more soldiers--didn't have enough! The French are not wanted there and should leave! The French said they couldn't work up sympathy for Americans killed in Iraq because we shouldn't be there, but they sure ran to the Security Council for an emergency meeting when they lost 10 soldiers.
The French used their superior air power to hurt the Ivorians.(sp?)which is never fair! Why didn't they try talking it out first? The French killed innocent civilians and we need an investigation!
Hee hee--I am sorry but this article is just full of opportunities to criticize as they have us. Obviously, I am not rejoicing at people being killed, it's just the French shouldn't throw stones.
Have the French asked the UN if they could fight back against the "freedom fighters"?
Have the French taken unilateral action against the Ivory Coast by an unsanctioned war?
Are the French going to call upon Germany to help them put down this revolt by peaceful people?
Could this be another outbreak of peace, love and murder in the name of Allah?
...more like un-peacekeeping...
"The French are not wanted there and should leave! "
I think they should stay. These people seem to know how to deal with them.
NO BLOOD FOR COCOA!!!!!
You cannot make this stuff up- for anyone paying attention to the Ivory Coast and Paris....this is a rich moment!
I wish the French would stop acting without UN approval. This go it alone attitude of theirs shows such a disregard for the worl community. The Ivory Coast did not post a clear threat to France.
"Machete-wielding mobs in Ivory Coast"
What happened to the BBC's favorite terminology -
Freedom Fighters?????
Maybe, 'No blood for chocolate!'
Actually, I'm one of the few cheering the French on right now. Somebody has to stand up to murderous 3rd world tinpot dictators, right?
Do they need any Mexicans?
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