The U.N. Security Council on Wednesday demanded an immediate end to the escalating violence in Ivory Coast
UNITED NATIONS (AP) — The U.N. Security Council on Wednesday demanded an immediate end to the escalating violence in Ivory Coast and imposed sanctions on Laurent Gbagbo, who has refused to relinquish the presidency, and his inner circle. Wednesday's council vote was unanimous and came five days after France and Nigeria introduced a draft resolution expressing "grave concern" that the west African nation could relapse into civil war.
The U.N.'s most powerful body voted on the day that fighters supporting Ivory Coast's internationally recognized President Alassane Ouattara seized control of the country's administrative capital, Yamoussoukro. It was seen as a symbolic victory by Ouattara's forces after months of political chaos that began when Gbagbo, the incumbent president, refused to recognize the results of the November election.
The resolution urged all Ivorian parties "to respect the will of the people and the election" of Ouattara as president.
It condemned Gbagbo's decision not to accept the solution proposed by a high-level African Union panel earlier this month, which includes recognizing Ouattara as president, and urged him step aside immediately.
The African Union also had suggested getting Ouattara to appoint members of Gbagbo's political party to a unity government. Ouattara said he has embraced this idea since last year's presidential campaign, but Gbagbo rejected it. The resolution backs the African Union proposal and calls for "an overall political solution that preserves democracy and peace and promotes lasting reconciliation among Ivorians."
Ivory Coast, the world's largest cocoa producer, has been in turmoil for almost a decade. It was split into a rebel-controlled north and government-controlled south after an attempted coup sparked civil war in 2002. A peace deal in March 2007 brought key rebel leaders into the administration and offered hope for a single government after years of foundering accords and disarmament plans. But the results of the Nov. 29 presidential election made clear that deep divisions remain. U.N. sanctions on Ivory Coast, including an arms embargo and controls on the export of rough diamonds, have been in effect since 2004.
