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Protests block Ivorian PM's return
The newly appointed prime minister of Ivory Coast has been forced to delay his return to the country because of unrest at the country's main airport. Seydou Diarra was obliged to remain in Senegal where West African leaders have been discussing the deal reached in Paris. "Hello, Mom?... Hi! I'm still in Senegal, so don't bother making dinner for me tonight... No, I'm not quite prime minster yet... Yes, Mom, I agree. The howling mobs can sometimes be very intimidating... Yeah. But we don't have to worry, 'cuz the Frenchies are on our side..." Crowds of demonstrators opposed to a peace deal stormed the terminal building and runway in Abidjan on Friday. One French soldier was seriously hurt as forces intervened to contain stone-throwing crowds heckling some 300 French citizens waiting to leave the country. France - the main sponsor of the peace agreement designed to end the four-moth conflict - has advised all non-essential French nationals to leave Ivory Coast. "They're leaving? But, Mom! Why would they do that?" On Saturday six West African leaders are due to meet President Laurent Gbagbo in Abidjan to urge him to implement the accord. Mr Diarra had been due to start forming his government in Abidjan on Friday. But the thousands of protestors at the airport made clear they did not want him. "Never come back!" young men supporting President Laurent Gbagbo shouted. Posted by: Fred Pruitt 2003-01-31 |
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