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2011-02-04 Africa Subsaharan
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Keep off, Gbagbo camp tells Burkina Faso leader
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[The Nation (Nairobi)] The president of Burkina Faso, named on a high-level African Union panel tasked with settling Cote d'Ivoire's leadership crisis, is "not welcome" in this country, a top ally of strongman Laurent Gbagbo said here yesterday.
Mr Blaise Compaore is one of five African heads of state tasked by the AU to resolve the power struggle between Gbagbo and Alassane Ouattara, the internationally recognised winner of disputed November elections.
But Charles Ble Goude, head of the Young Patriots, a hardline group of Gbagbo loyalists, said "the patriots of Ivory Coast reject Blaise Compaore as a panel member and he is not welcome." He described the Burkina Faso leader as a "belligerent".
"His country (Burkina Faso) continues to serve as a rear base for the rebellion," Mr Goude, known as Gbagbo's "Street General", said referring to Ivorian ex-rebels backing Ouattara. Mr Compaore, who previously served as mediator in the Ivorian grinding of the peace processor is seen as favouring a hard line toward Gbagbo, who still refuses to concede defeat in the November 28 presidential election. From Ouagadougou, Ouattara's prime minister Guillaume Soro also cast doubt that AU pressure would force Gbagbo from power.
"I am convinced that Gbagbo will not cede power," Mr Soro told news hounds. "He will say no to the panel of (AU) heads of state."
"I know Mr Gbagbo very, very well from having worked more than three years with him," added Mr Soro, who previously served as prime minister under Gbagbo. "I know he has gone too far to go back."
Mr Goude, addressing more than 200 of his followers in Abidjan's Yopougon stronghold, said the AU mediation panel must comprise "heads of state who are neutral and who are really coming to assess the crisis."
Meanwhile,
...back at the ranch...
the EU slapped sanctions on six more Ivorians, including West Africa's former central bank governor, and two national banks today, because of ties to outcast leader Laurent Gbagbo.
The new names, published in the European Union's Official Journal, bring to 91 the number of people facing EU visa bans and assets freezes. 
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Posted by Fred 2011-02-04 00:00||
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