Gbagbo expels British and Canadian ambassadors

Cote d'Ivoire's President Laurent Gbagbo on Thursday announced the expulsion of British and Canadian ambassadors after their countries terminated the functions of his representatives.

Gbagbo’s Cabinet spokesman said in a statement read on State television that in a courier dated December 22, Ottawa removed Cote d’Ivoire’s ambassador accreditation.

"In light of this decision and through the application of the principle of reciprocity governing diplomatic relations, the Ministry (of Foreign Affairs) informs Madame Marie Isabelle Massip that her accreditation as Canadian Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Ambassador in Cote d’Ivoire is also ended,” declared Mr Ahoua Don Mello.

The statement added that “under the same conditions and for the same reasons” the ministry withdraws the accreditation of United Kingdom and Northern Ireland ambassador Nicholas James Westcott, who resides in neighbouring Ghana.

Gbagbo is not breaking diplomatic relations with the countries, as the statement read that pending the appointment of new representatives; the ministry will continue to deal with staff of the embassies.

Decision rejected

Few hours later, UK Foreign Office and a spokesperson for Foreign Affairs Minister of Canada rejected the decision saying it does not come from the “legitimate” authorities they recognise.

It should be recalled that like Ottawa, London informed on December 31, Gbagbo’s ambassador that “he is no longer the Ambassador for Cote d’Ivoire to the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland”. Earlier Belgium and the UN welcomed the ambassadors appointed by internationally backed Alassane Ouattara while France said the accreditation of Gbagbo rival's envoy was underway.

In Abidjan, Ouattara continued on Thursday a media offensive started a week ago with interviews in various media outlets.

At a press conference at the hotel where he is holed up, the opposition leader explained that a military intervention would not lead to a civil war.

“It is a force to remove Laurent Gbagbo … There are non-violent special operations which allow simply to take the unwanted person and take him elsewhere”. He also said that his rival would leave before the end of January.

Ouattara harshly warned civil servants who continue to collaborate with Gbagbo’s government. He disclosed that they might lose their job and even face “long time” prison term. After opposition’s Cabinet was set up early December, it called on civil servants to stop cooperating with Gbagbo’s administration, then all the workers for civil disobedience and finally a general strike.

'Heavily armed' soldiers

In another development, the former rebels of New Forces movement said they would not move from the opposition hotel headquarters as requested by Gbagbo’s camp as a condition to lift the military blockade.

They said that they would only leave if “former Head of State Laurent Gbagbo accepts his defeat in the second round of the presidential election” and “decides to leave power peacefully”. The group warned any attack on the hotel would face their “heavily armed and well trained” 850 soldiers instead of 300 as stated by Gbagbo Foreign Affairs minister.

The New Forces who have been holding the northern part of the country since 2002 sent 1,500 troops to the South in October to take part to the secure of the elections. It is not clear how many of them went back to their base in the central city of Bouaké.

In Western Cote d’Ivoire about 16 persons were reported killed and 60 wounded in the town of Duékoué. The unrest that lasted from Monday to Wednesday involved native communities Guéré and Malinké.

According to local witnesses, a bus going from Duékoué to a neighbouring town on Monday morning was attacked by armed men. A Malinké woman was shot dead in the attack and rumours said the gangsters were members of Guéré ethnic group. In retaliation, young people attacked the Guéré. About a hundred shops and houses were set on fire in the market.

However, police restored calm later and a curfew has since been imposed.