ECOWAS Threatens Force On Cote D'Ivoire

ECOWAS Threatens Force On Cote D'Ivoire

The leaders of the Economic Community of West African States ECOWAS have threatened to use force against Cote D'Ivoire's Laurent Gbagbo after he refused to step down.

This was the outcome of extra ordinary the summit held at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja, with leaders from ten member countries attending.

Earlier in December 7, the ECOWAS leaders suspended Cote d'Ivoire's membership and threw their weight behind Alassane Ouattara, who was declared winner of the 28 November presidential runoff by the electoral commission. They also asked Gbagbo to step down.

The stalemate over the runoff with Gbagbo and Ouattara laying claims to the West African nation's presidency has led to clashes that the UN says have left one hundred and seventy-three dead and triggered fears that the post-election crisis could reignite the country's 2002-2003 civil war.

On Friday, the UN said masked gunmen with rocket launchers were blocking access to what officials believe may be a mass grave site in the country.

UN human Rights officers in Cote d'Ivoire have also confirmed allegations of more than one hundred and seventy killings, hundreds of arrests and dozens of cases of torture, ill treatment and enforced disappearance of people over the past one week.

Another Diplomatic Move

Despite the threat of force, ECOWAS has sent another delegation to persuade Laurent Gbagbo to step down and allow the duely elected internationally recognised President of Cote d'Ivoire, Allassane Ouattara to rule the country.

Ghana To Evacuate Nationals

In a related development, the Ghanaian government says it has contingency plans to evacuate its nationals from Cote d'Ivoire.

Deputy Minister for Information, James Agyenim-Boateng said in Accra that the government was closely monitoring the situation and would act before the crisis got out of hand.

Agyenim-Boateng said a detailed plan had been put in place for a time when it may be necessary to evacuate Ghanaian citizens from Cote d'Ivoire.

NAN/ PANA/AFP/ Qasim