Posted on 11/11/2004 10:00:08 PM PST by BurbankKarl
War is imminent in Ivory Coast: South African authorities Last Updated Thu, 11 Nov 2004 18:07:07 EST ABIDJAN, IVORY COAST - The Ivory Coast is on the brink of a full-scale war which could spill over to other countries, warned the South African government.
"We need to contain it in the Ivory Coast and bring it under control," said South African Foreign Affairs Minister Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma.
South African President Thabo Mbeki opened talks between Ivorian opposition and rebel leaders in Pretoria on Thursday. Mbeki had met earlier in the week with Ivorian President Laurent Gbago.
Thousands of foreigners, including Canadians, are fleeing the country. A Canadian-chartered plane carrying 64 Canadians landed in Ghana Wednesday night. Foreign Affairs says there are 400 Canadian citizens registered in Ivory Coast along with 300 non-Canadian family members. The department had to cancel a second plane because of security concerns.
The French government managed to airlift 800 of its citizens and other foreigners on two planes Thursday. United Nations officials say more than 1,600 people have taken refuge inside a French military camp.
The violence began Saturday when nine French peacekeepers and an American aid worker were killed in an air strike by government warplanes.
France retaliated by destroying the country's air force. Thousands of government loyalists took to the streets, looting, burning and attacking French troops and civilians in protest.
"After 23 years in Ivory Coast, I have 60 kilograms of luggage and a dog," said a Belgian businessman as he boarded a plane to leave.
French President Jacques Chirac has demanded President Gbago rein in his supporters who are blamed for the anti-foreigner violence.
The northern half of the former French colony has been without electricity and running water since last week. It's believed authorities have cut power to rebel-held areas of the north.
Well if they say war is 'imminent' in the Ivory Coast it's a good thing France is involved, since SOMEBODY will have to surrender sooner or later.
Q - Why are French translation books issued to their military so small?
A - It only takes a few pages to list every language equivalent for 'I Surrender'.
Where's the MSM outrage against France?
Don't hold your breath...
You really aren't serious, are you?
Aaaaaahhhhhhh... I just exhaled. Thanks! ;)
Let's wait for the detailed investigative report by Dan RaTHer before forming an opinion.
France had better get busy. Quagmire commin!
BTW. In the way of assistance, we should donate 50,000 WWII surplus t'shirts so they can have enough surrender flags.
We ought to go all the way and ARM the anti-French militants.
lol we should
I'm taking book on how long it is before the French surrender ("withdraw").
Put me down for $20 - I say nightfall on Sunday.
the UN lead the Us, or vive versa, into attacking the WRONG people, thus making a Muslim foothold in Europe even stronger....
now in IC, we have people willing to stand up to the Muslim rebels, and it sure sounds like France and South Africa and the Un want to jump in and destroy the IC govt, thus handing over leadership to the Muslims.......
believe it or not, we should be supporting the IC govt as it stands now.....
Whoa, now...if the Province of France surrenders does that mean all the rest of Canada has to abide by it too? Or will the Government Canadien simply blame the military reverse on overzealousness on the part of Chirac, the governor of the Easternmost Province of Canada?
Oh Boy, is this another "rumble in the jungle"? Got popcorn?
The United States should give the Ivorians several MOABs, and to hell with the critics.
France is overthrowing the government to impose Muslim rule in the north.
When is the rest of the world going to wake the eff up, and realize that we are going to lose, if we keep fighting this war like pu$$ies. All this goddamn PC everyone is worried about is going to get us conquered or killed, and it is almost funny, the PC crowd will be the first to be the ones to have head, and body separated, and why they don't see that when it should be obvious to anyone with a ounce of intelligence. Maybe they have been brainwashed by Mike Moron's mantra, There is no terrorist threat, There is no terrorist threat, If he really believes that, why didn't he go over to Iraq and interview Mr.Zarqawi, and repeat that refrain, while his head is being lopped off?
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