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Ivory Coast Mob Besieges French Base
A pro-government mob was laying siege to a French military base in Ivory Coastâs commercial capital Monday, and French forces were firing tear gas and rounds to try to break up the crowd. French soldiers, in Ivory Coast to enforce a cease-fire in the former French colony, left the base in armored personnel carriers to confront the 250-strong, rock-throwing mob. Shots could be heard from the base, but it was not clear whether they were rubber bullets or live rounds. White fumes rose from tear gas fired by the French, and black smoke billowed from a roadblock of burning metal drums set afire at the base gates by the loyalist young men. Now, what was that French word for quagmire again? About 4,000 French and 1,200 West African peacekeepers are in Ivory Coast to hold cease-fire lines, keeping the peace between northern-based rebels and the southern-based government after a nine-month civil war. The war was declared over in January, but tensions have remained high. Hard-core government loyalists increasingly are insisting that the French clear a buffer zone between north and south to allow government forces to attack the rebels again. On Sunday, Ivory Coast soldiers briefly seized control of Ivory Coastâs state television headquarters, broadcasting demands that French and West African peacekeepers leave so armed forces can attack the rebels in coming days. French tried to turn the country over to the rebels, but the government forces wonât have anything to do with it. Posted by: Steve 2003-12-01 |
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