allAfrica.com: Côte d'Ivoire: American Embassy's National Daily Press Review (Page 1 of 1)

This daily press review is compiled by the Information Section of the Public Affairs Office of the American Embassy in Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire.

1. Destabilization in the New Forces zone and the killing taking place there these days, the beating of one of the leaders of young patriots and the end of year speech of President Gbagbo are the main topics in today's press.

2. "The Head of State's New Year message to Ivorians: "Let's go to peace, let's go to elections." According to the paper, Gbagbo said in his speech that the Ouagadougou Agreement works well and will work well. Concrete actions show progress towards peace since the signature of that agreement. He wishes that 2008 be a peaceful year, a peace which guarantees the functioning of democratic institutions. He also invites all Ivorians to do everything they can to stop the crisis and build peace every day.

3. L'Inter (an independent daily): The paper runs a banner headline reading, "Destabilization in the New Forces zone, Soro from Bouaké: a coup d'etat is no longer possible; IB wants to cover his tracks." According to the paper, after last week's disturbances in Bouaké, Soro went there last Sunday to meet the population. In his address, he was quoted as saying: "New Forces' main demands remain identification, and fair, free and transparent elections, as well as the installation of a new army for Cote d'Ivoire." For him, it is no longer possible to have a coup d'etat in Cote d'Ivoire.

The paper also reports that Eugene Djué, one of the young patriots' leaders, was beaten at President Gbagbo's residence last Monday. Mr. Djué, who had an appointment, was refused access to the presidency three times during the day. Fed up with the behavior of the guards who obviously wanted to prevent him from seeing the President, he insisted and wanted to pass the security line when he was stopped. Despite the intervention of one of Gbagbo collaborators, the guards dragged him from his car and beat him, causing numerous injuries.

On another subject the paper reports on an article in the Financial Times titled: "When the Financial Times plays the prophet." In the article, the Financial Times reportedly claims it predicted the election of Sarkozy and the sub-prime crisis. For 2008, the British daily names Hilary Clinton as the future president of the United States unless there is a big surprise.

4. "How I escaped from the death squad in Bouaké" is the headline of L'Intelligent d'Abidjan, (an independent daily): In an interview with Tango, an ex-combatant of the New Forces, he explained the killing occurring in Bouake in order to inform Ivorians and the international community at a time when the United Nations Operations in Cote d'Ivoire (ONUCI) is requesting an investigation and postmortem examination of the victims. According to the paper, Tango is quoted as saying: "Since December 27, man hunting started in Bouake. At least 40 men supposed to be pro IB have been killed. People are kidnapped during the night and killed. The death squad is led by Ouattara Morou, Fofié Kouakou and Wattao's supporters."

5. In Le Jour Plus (a daily close to the opposition): The paper carries a front-page story saying "After the ripples of soldiers and Dozos (traditional Hunters), a death squadron acts in Bouaké; the testimony of a survivor." According to the paper, Tango states in the interview: "There has never been any attack in Bouaké. People accused of being IB supporters are kidnapped during the night and killed. The whole town is mourning and the man hunting continues. Traoré Seydou, alias Imam, who was killed last week fell into a trap. He had an appointment with Morou Ouattara, the war lord of Bouna. He was killed when he went to that appointment and 30 minutes later while we were waiting for him, armed men attacked our house and by the grace of God, I escaped."

The paper also reports that Ibrahmin Coulibaly alias IB who is actually in Brussels accuses Soro Guillaume of being responsible for his own destabilization. According to IB, the latest events that occurred in Bouaké have been created by the New Forces in order not to go to disarmament of their ex-combatants. IB asked: "Is it I who tell them not to pay their soldiers? The ex-combatants are living in misery, is it I who tell them to ask for better living conditions? It is not I who ask the population not to pay the electricity and water bills while they don't have jobs." For IB the New Forces leaders are working against the Ouagadougou Agreement. They don't want their elements to disarm because if they do so, they will be nothing.

6. "Tragic beginning of the year in Bondoukou: a grenade explodes, seven children killed and others injured" is the front page story of Nord-Sud Quotidien (a daily close to RDR). According to the paper, a grenade exploded in a Koranic school. One witness said that in the absence of the teacher, the children were playing when a man on a moto gave them a package and told them that it was their end of year gift. One of the children opened it and the grenade exploded killing five of them right away and two others died at the hospital.

The paper also reports that Eugène Djué, one of the young patriot's leaders, was beaten by soldiers at President Gbagbo's residence last Monday when he went to honor an appointment with the President. According to the paper, Kuyo Tea Narcisse, the President's Chief of Cabinet, who wanted to prevent Eugene Djue and his friends from seeing Gbagbo, gave orders to the soldiers to throw them out. A discussion followed and the soldiers beat Djue and his friends and damaged Djue's car.

7. In Le Temps (a daily close to Gbagbo): a front page story says: "Killings and hasty executions in Bouaké: Soro justifies the barbarity of his men; the United Nations condemns this violence; IB and the New Forces accuse each other." According to the paper, Soro presented his apology to the population and explained to them that behind the legitimate demands of some soldiers, there was manipulation which was to discredit the New Forces. He invited parents to give advice to their children in order to avoid the killing because it is no longer possible to have a coup d'etat in Cote d'Ivoire.

Concerning IB, who is accused of preparing a coup d'etat, he defended himself in an interview on RFI and is quoted as saying: "In reality, the New Forces look for an alibi to avoid disarming. Every time disarmament is raised they create situation in order to refuse to disarm. There has never been any attack of the New Forces' patrol."

The paper also reports that the United Nations condemns the violence in Bouake and the violation of human rights which happened in the zone of the New Forces. The UN has requested an investigation and demanded that the persons guilty of committing those killings be judged according to the law.

8. In Le Rebond (a daily close to the former ruling PDCI party): A front page story says: "Massacres in Bouaké, a poignant testimony of a survivor; the hidden face of the uprising." According to the paper, a suvivor said that the "cleaning" in Bouake is to push away those who no longer believe in the New Forces. For the New Forces, those who are making objectives criticisms are IB's supporters and must be killed. In reality, the major objective is to help Gbagbo gain a second mandate and impose him on the population of the North and the Center.

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