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| East/Subsaharan Africa |
| Ivorian rebels deny mass grave blame |
| 2003-02-16 |
| Rebel groups in the west of the Ivory Coast have alleged that mass graves found in the town of Man were the work of forces loyal to Ivorian President Laurent Gbagbo. Military commanders from two rebel groups said that the victims were civilians with names from the north and from neighbouring countries, who attacked the town two months ago. A BBC correspondent who visited the graves says the positions of some of the bodies indicate summary execution. Rebels took over the town in late November, when they attacked it and ousted government forces. This was after the failed coup. The corpses are strewn across the local cemetery on the outskirts of the town, says the BBC's Joan Baxter, who has visited the town. Some of the bodies are wrapped in plastic sacks and others are charred. Bodies have also been found in a nearby forest but are thought to be those of people who died during the recent fighting. The military commander of the two rebel groups, the MJP (Movement for Peace and Justice) and MPIGO (Ivorian Patriotic Movement for the Greater West) say that pro-government forces are to blame. About 12,000 people are reported to have been killed in Man since Ivory Coast's civil war started five months ago. "Wudn't us! Ya can't pin a thing on us!" Locals say the people were targeted for having foreign names. Foreign as in non-Ivorites in the north part of the country, or furriners from the outside? Man is said to be extremely tense and many businesses are shut. I'd be tense, too, if mass graves were just out there on the main road to town. Rebel groups are threatening to march on Ivory Coast's commercial capital Abidjan unless President Gbagbo appoints its nominees to the cabinet. March on the capital? Where's the Foreign Legion? They maintain that a peace deal signed in Paris in January promised them key ministries but President Gbagbo - who also signed the accord - insists he must have the final say on government appointments. Ducking and weaving as he tries to survive. |
| Posted by:Steve White |
| #1 In the rebel held area, foreign means not having a Moslem name, I bet. |
| Posted by: Chuck 2003-02-16 05:17:06 |