₦airaland Forum

Violence flares in Ivory Coast, deaths reported

Abidjan, Ivory Coast (CNN) -- At least nine unarmed protesters in Ivory Coast's largest city were shot and killed by security forces Thursday, eyewitnesses told Amnesty International.

The violence erupted as troops loyal to the incumbent president and supporters of his challenger confronted each other on the tense and chaotic streets of Abidjan.

"Amnesty International is appalled by this completely unjustified and disproportionate use of force and calls on the Ivorian security forces to stop these killings immediately," said Salvatore Sagues, the West Africa researcher for Amnesty, a human rights group.

"Those who opened fire on these people, as well as those who gave the order, will have to account for their acts," he said.

The demonstrators -- part of mass street protests called by the presidential challenger, Alassane Ouattara -- had been marching from various locations in Abidjan "in an attempt to seize the state-run RTI" broadcasting offices when security forces fired on them, Amnesty said.
Witnesses told CNN that exchanges of fire also raged outside a hotel that is serving as the headquarters of Ouattara, a former economist and prime minister who ran for president against incumbent President Laurent Gbagbo in a November 28 runoff.

The West African nation has been in a political stalemate over the disputed election, in which both men claim victory.
The country's Independent Electoral Commission said Ouattara won the runoff, but the country's Constitutional Council invalidated those results and declared Gbagbo the winner.
Ever since, tension has filled the air in Abidjan. On Tuesday, Amnesty International said, "Ouattara called for mass street protests to seize state radio and government buildings, still held by officials loyal to Laurent Gbagbo, who is refusing to leave office."
Eyewitnesses told Amnesty International at least six people were shot dead by security forces in the neighborhood of Abobo.
"When we saw security forces near the police station of the 21rst arrondissement, we raised our hands and told them that we were unarmed. They refused to answer and threw tear gas grenades. Then immediately they shot at us. I saw dead bodies in the street. I know three of them," one eyewitness told Amnesty International.
Security forces near the Makassi crossroads shot tear gas and then fired on another group of protesters, killing three people, the human rights organization said.

"A young man, a car washer, who was not participating in the demonstration, was shot dead by two men wearing military uniforms, with hoods. The young man was standing in front of the garage waiting for drivers in order to wash their vehicles when two military (personnel) arrive. One of them tripped him up, he fell down. One of the military who was wearing sunglasses shot at him at point blank with a gun," an eyewitness told Amnesty International.

CNN witnesses saw at least two dead bodies.
One of the bodies was seen in front of U.N. headquarters, where there was a tent for the wounded. Another was seen in a slum near the Hotel Golf. Witnesses said he was a pro-Ouattara supporter who was shot by police because he was armed, but that account could not be confirmed.

Heavy gunfire and mortars could be heard for at least an hour and up to three miles away from the hotel, where people protecting the Ouattara headquarters exchanged fire with forces loyal to Gbagbo.
Soldiers loyal to Gbagbo were in combat posture, hiding in the bush around the hotel. Ex-rebel forces were trying to free blockades held by the pro-Gbagbo forces on the sole access road to the hotel.

Witnesses spoke of confrontation at the RTI building, which has been surrounded by armored vehicles and troops loyal to Gbagbo since the crisis began.

Also, police forces fired shots to disperse demonstrators in a pro-Ouattara neighborhood, witnesses said.
The United Nations, African Union, European Union and other international bodies and leaders have called on Gbagbo to step down, but he has declined to do so.

On Wednesday, U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon warned that the stalemate could lead to renewed fighting in a country that was wracked by civil war for several years.
"The situation is taking a worrying turn with unfolding events that could lead to widespread violence," Ban said in a written statement.

The developments include recent threats by some commanders of the national security forces to resort to military options, and clashes on Monday between security forces and ex-rebels supporting Ouattara, the internationally recognized winner of the election.

The International Criminal Court's chief prosecutor, Luis Moreno Ocampo, told French media that he would prosecute people responsible for any deadly post-election violence.
Sagues also warned that Ivory Coast is close to another civil war.

"Every effort must be made to prevent an escalation of violence. There is a very real threat that many more lives will be lost if the security forces continue to shoot at protesters indiscriminately," Sagues said.

http://edition.cnn.com/2010/WORLD/africa/12/16/ivory.coast.violence/index.html

ZIM DRILL:
pliz just swallow the pride

we aint looking for who has potential

we are just looking at who is number one at the present -- period

Well Nigeria is number 1 in terms of population. Number 2 in size of economy. Period.

[quote author=Ileke-IdI link=topic=101650.msg7352075#msg7352075 date=1292550648][/quote]Do you find that funny?

Nigeria has the most potential out of any African nation. South Africa still has to solve that land issue, which can blow in their face. They do not want to go the route Zimbabwe has taken. That would be prove disastrous for the region.

strangerf:
Akatabian Chei?

Not you again. . .

[quote author=Ileke-IdI link=topic=101650.msg7350818#msg7350818 date=1292534669]Are you minding Ochi_Aga = EzeUche = Omenani?[/quote]Ochi_Agha = Omenani - That is correct.

EzeUche is full Nigerian. I am half Black-American, and I have seen some of his disparaging remarks concerning my people so do not insult me.

Why would he hang himself? There are plenty of women out there, than to worry about some ashawo. People are taking their lives over cheating? What a waste of a life.

chyz:
There is nothing like Hausa-Fulani but the is Hausa, Igbo,Yoruba, Fulani, Ibibio,etc. Neither the Hausas or the fulanis are the most populous within nigeria.

You are wrong. The Fulani in the North have mostly become Hausa in culture and language. That is why they are always lumped in with the Hausa.

The Hausa are the most populous group within Nigeria. And the Hausa people are a very large ethnic group. They can be considered one of the largest ethnities in all of Africa. Hausa is considered a lingua franca by many in West Africa since the language is spoken in Nigeria, Niger, Benin, Ghana, Burkana Faso etc.

Hausaland was very advanced prior to colonialism. And it supported a huge population. By the time, the European arrived in Northern Nigeria, they were commenting how populous the North was, because of trade and arable land. It was also highly urbanized.

Leave sentiment alone. The North has a large population. Not including cattle. . .

The South-East is the most densely populated region in the world in general. Some populations in Nigeria have been exaggerated, while others have been under counted. Especially populations in the South-East are under counted due to political games.

[b]I do not think Nigeria's population as high as people think though. [/b]However, I still feel that the Hausa-Fulani are the most populous people in Nigeria in general. Followed by the Igbo, then Yoruba, Ibibio/Efik/Annang, and Ijaws.

Nigeria can only be pushed to the brink if two of the three major ethnicities are at odds with each other. Currently, neither the Yoruba or the Igbo are worried about the North. Only the South-South is at odds with the North.

People on NL are hilarious! Very funny indeed.

A state could be said to "succeed" if it maintains, in the words of Max Weber, a monopoly on the legitimate use of physical force within its borders. When this is broken (e.g., through the dominant presence of warlords, paramilitary groups, or terrorism), the very existence of the state becomes dubious, and the state becomes a failed state.

Culled from Aid Watchers

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Nigeria is a failed state due to its inability to protect its citizens as well as having rebels operating within its borders.

strangerf:
But not with Ibos, right?

Are you ok? What is your obsession with Igbo people? I find your rants quite annoying. Go back to the [b]Politics [/b]section where you belong you beast. And stop following me like some lost puppy.

I have no problem dating amongst the lower classes. It is easy to impress women of a lower class. I could possibly marry a woman of a lower status as well. I have seen many Igbo men who are successful, marry a woman from their village who does not have much money. Does that count?

Inter-tribal marriages and mixing is a beautiful thing. One Blood!

Some people think the North doesn't have a monopoly on violence, but every time I look at the news, I only see Northerners rioting and maiming people. Igbos sometimes rise up in Aba and Onitsha, but that doesn't happen every day. The OPC sometimes start trouble, but it is Northerners who are quick to violence.

I'm a geek/eye candy so I got the best of both worlds.

You think the North will allow GEJ to do this to Atiku. I think not. 2011 should be an interesting year. I will be watching with anticipation in the safety of the U.S.

We men are looking for "ride or die" chicks. A woman needs to be down for her man, for better or for worse.