France warned of long war in Ivory Coast
Anti-Imperialist | 08.11.2004 13:21 | Social Struggles
Loyalists, French troops at standoff near Ivory Coast leader's home
November 8, 2004 4:37 AM
The Associated Press
ABIDJAN, Ivory Coast Officials in the Ivory Coast say French armored vehicles have taken up positions around the home of the president there, prompting fears the goverment is about to be overthrown.
Witnesses say French forces have fired warning shots in an effort to keep crowds away. However, the national radio is calling on residents to converge on the scene.
The French are denying targeting the president's home. They say their forces are only securing a temporary base at a hotel about 200 yards away.
The violence in the country spiked this weekend when an Ivory Coast airstrike killed nine French peacekeepers and one American aid worker. That prompted French forces to detroy the country's airforce.
France warned of long war in Ivory Coast
Foreigners seek shelter at French base
AFP, Paris
Coutesy of The Daily Star (Bangladesh)
Mon. November 08, 2004
Ref:
http://www.thedailystar.net/2004/11/08/d41108130597.htm
The Speaker of the Ivorian parliament Mamadou Coulibaly issued a stark warning to France yesterday that it faces a "long war" in Ivory coast after its intervention against government forces, and that French nationals in the country risk death at the hands of the mob.
"We are really launched on a long, hard war. It will be a quagmire for the French. What has happened marks a turning point. Vietnam will be nothing compared with what we are going to do here," he said by telephone on France Info radio.
Coulibaly, an ally of President Laurent Gbagbo, was speaking a day after French planes destroyed the Ivorian air force in retaliation for the killing of nine French troops, and French helicopters fired rockets to stop a crowd advancing on Abidjan airport.
About 100 foreigners threatened by rioting and looting have taken shelter at French military barracks near Abidjan's international airport, a French military spokesman said yesterday.
Earlier, three people were reported to have been shot dead as tens of thousands of Ivorians marched on the airport, controlled by French troops since a government air raid Saturday killed nine French peacekeepers and a US civilian.
November 8, 2004 4:37 AM
The Associated Press
ABIDJAN, Ivory Coast Officials in the Ivory Coast say French armored vehicles have taken up positions around the home of the president there, prompting fears the goverment is about to be overthrown.
Witnesses say French forces have fired warning shots in an effort to keep crowds away. However, the national radio is calling on residents to converge on the scene.
The French are denying targeting the president's home. They say their forces are only securing a temporary base at a hotel about 200 yards away.
The violence in the country spiked this weekend when an Ivory Coast airstrike killed nine French peacekeepers and one American aid worker. That prompted French forces to detroy the country's airforce.
France warned of long war in Ivory Coast
Foreigners seek shelter at French base
AFP, Paris
Coutesy of The Daily Star (Bangladesh)
Mon. November 08, 2004
Ref:
http://www.thedailystar.net/2004/11/08/d41108130597.htm The Speaker of the Ivorian parliament Mamadou Coulibaly issued a stark warning to France yesterday that it faces a "long war" in Ivory coast after its intervention against government forces, and that French nationals in the country risk death at the hands of the mob.
"We are really launched on a long, hard war. It will be a quagmire for the French. What has happened marks a turning point. Vietnam will be nothing compared with what we are going to do here," he said by telephone on France Info radio.
Coulibaly, an ally of President Laurent Gbagbo, was speaking a day after French planes destroyed the Ivorian air force in retaliation for the killing of nine French troops, and French helicopters fired rockets to stop a crowd advancing on Abidjan airport.
About 100 foreigners threatened by rioting and looting have taken shelter at French military barracks near Abidjan's international airport, a French military spokesman said yesterday.
Earlier, three people were reported to have been shot dead as tens of thousands of Ivorians marched on the airport, controlled by French troops since a government air raid Saturday killed nine French peacekeepers and a US civilian.
Anti-Imperialist
Comments
Display the following comment