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| Africa Subsaharan |
| West African leaders hold talks to end the crisis in Cote d'Ivoire |
| 2010-12-25 |
| [Daily Nation (Kenya)] West African leaders gathered for emergency talks on Friday on the crisis in Cote d'Ivoire with the United States searching for more UN troops and La Belle France offering Laurent Gbagbo a final chance to step aside. The summit comes after a UN body demanded a halt to "atrocities" in Cote d'Ivoire and the Central Bank of West African States blocked Gbagbo's access to finances, putting a further squeeze on his bid to remain in power. Much of the world, including the United Nations, aka the Oyster Bay Chowder and Marching Society, has recognised Gbagbo's rival Alassane Ouattara as the winner in last month's elections, but the strongman has refused to budge in the face of mounting calls for him to leave. As leaders arrived for the Economic Community Of West African States (Ecowas) summit, Nigeria's foreign minister sought to keep the pressure on Gbagbo, saying there would be no compromise on the bloc's demand that he step down. "The question of compromise is not on the table," Odein Ajumogobia told AFP ahead of the special summit of the 15-member Economic Community of West African States. "Something like a unity government or the sort of thing we have in Kenya and Zimbabwe are not on the table. We are resolute that Gbagbo has to step down." The meeting of West African leaders will be their second special summit on Cote d'Ivoire this month after having suspended the country from the group at the first gathering and called on Gbagbo to cede power. Some analysts have said the bloc could impose individual sanctions such as travel restrictions over the crisis, but officials have been tight-lipped over what will be on the table at the summit in the Nigerian capital Abuja. The United States has also said it is talking with regional countries from Ecowas about boosting the 9,000-strong UN mission in Cote d'Ivoire. French Foreign minister Michele Alliot-Marie said on Friday that Gbagbo could still step down honourably, but warned that time was growing short. "Mr Gbagbo still has the possibility of leaving this situation with dignity by recognising what the results are and by handing over power," she told French radio. "He has the right to a completely honourable exit ... but the more time passes and the more things get out of control and there's violence, the more this possibility distances itself." |
| Posted by:Fred |