Wednesday, September 30, 2015

Cote d'Ivoire: President calls for peace and reconciliation

(Xinhua) -- Cote d'Ivoire President Alassane Ouattara on Monday appealed for reconciliation and peace during his second day of the tour to central-west region of Gagnoa, a stronghold of former president Laurent Gbagbo.

"I have come to Gagnoa to appeal for peace and reconciliation because the population here suffered a lot," Ouattara said during a public rally at the Gagnoa municipal stadium.

The post-election crisis that began after Gbagbo refused to concede defeat to his rival Ouattara during the 2010 presidential elections, left at least 3,000 people dead in the country.

Gbagbo is currently in detention in the Hague awaiting his prosecution for "crimes against humanity" at the International Criminal Court.

"I want a peaceful Cote d'Ivoire, I want peace in Cote d'Ivoire," Ouattara affirmed, condemning political violence that has been witnessed with less than a month before the country holds presidential polls on Oct. 25.

Protests launched by a section of the opposition that is loyal to Gbagbo against Ouattara's validation for October polls, has turned into inter-ethnic clashes that have left at least two people dead in Gagnoa.

"There should be peace for all Cote d'Ivoire people," Ouattara reiterated.

The Cote d'Ivoire president has been on a three day tour to the central-western region of the country since Sunday.

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