SECRETARY-GENERAL CONDEMNS VIOLENCE IN CÔTE D’IVOIRE

AIMED AT DISRUPTING IDENTIFICATION PROCESS

 

The following statement was issued today by the Spokesman for UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan:

The Secretary-General is deeply concerned about the recent inflammatory statements by the leadership of the Front Populaire Ivoirien, which have incited the Young Patriots to resort to acts of violence aimed at disrupting the ongoing identification process in Côte d’Ivoire.  The violence resulted in the loss of human lives and an attack by Young Patriots on the vehicle of the High Representative for Elections, Gérard Stoudmann.

The Secretary-General strongly condemns these acts, which are in breach of the agreements reached among Ivorian parties, including during the high-level meeting he convened in Yamoussoukro on 5 July.  He urges all Ivorian parties to extend their full cooperation to the Prime Minister as the Government presses ahead with the simultaneous implementation of the identification and disarmament processes.

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For information media • not an official record