Curfew Imposed On Cote D'Ivoire

Curfew Imposed On Cote D'Ivoire

Security forces loyal to the incumbent president, Laurent Gbagbo have imposed a curfew and descended on an opposition neighborhood, sending in a convoy of military trucks after two days of clashes.

Gbagbo's army chief, Philippe Mangou, read a declaration on state television warning that attacks by opposition supporters on their men amounted to ‘acts of war' and has given them the right to retaliate.

Mangou warned human rights groups and the international community that any upcoming operations were being done in self-defense.

The neighborhood of Abobo has been under siege for the past two days, starting with a police raid early on Tuesday.

Civilians in Abobo are worried that the curfew meant the army will now have free rein to search houses and commit abuses.

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon expressed deep concern at the clashes in the Abobo neighborhood and plans by forces loyal to Gbagbo to launch another operation in the area.

ECOWAS Team Addresses UN , US

Meanwhile, an ECOWAS delegation is billed to address the UN Security Council and the US government on the position and plans of the regional body on Cote d'Ivoire  

ECOWAS Chairman and Nigeria 's President Goodluck Jonathan nominated the team, which includes Presidents Amadou Toumani Toure of Mali , Ernest Bai Koroma of Sierra Leone and Nigeria 's Foreign Minister, Odein Ajumogobia.

Nigeria 's Ambassador to the US , Professor Ade Adefuye and the ECOWAS Director of Political Affairs, Dr. Jonas Hemou, are also part of the team, scheduled to update ECOWAS partners, particularly the permanent members of the UN Security Council.

Although the dates of the meeting have not been secured, the UN and Washington are receptive to the briefing.

A senior Nigeria Mission official at the UN confirmed that President Jonathan had intimated Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon about plans to send a high-powered delegation to brief the world body.

Cocorioko, a New Jersey-based Sierra Leonean news website, quoted a letter by Jonathan nominating Koroma as a member of the delegation.

''I consider this initiative very important in the partnership that we are enjoying with them since the United Nations Security Council will soon meet and ECOWAS will be required to provide the position and plans of ECOWAS on Ivory Coast ,'' Jonathan wrote in the letter.    

Three African delegations had visited Cote d'Ivoire since the post-presidential election crisis began, to persuade sitting President Laurent Gbagbo to hand over to the internationally recognised winner of the November 28 run-off election, Mr. Alassane Ouattara.

Jonathan's letter said: ''as you may have already been informed, the mission was not successful because both sides continued to stick to their points of view. ..While waiting for an opportunity to resume further initiatives in this direction, I have thought it fit to update our partners, particularly the permanent members of the United Nations Security Council on the efforts made so far by ECOWAS and any further actions in the matter.''

One delegation will also visit France and the United Kingdom while another goes to  China , India and Russia . 

AP/ NAN/Margaret/Yinka