Ivory Coast Protesters Demand Poll Commission
- 14 years ago
Demonstrations erupted in the world's biggest cocoa producer after Gbagbo dissolved the government and electoral commission on Feb. 12 in a row over the voter register, again delaying a poll due in March but already four and a half years late.
At least seven were killed by security forces, but protesters say that demonstrations will continue.
[Alphonse Djedje Mady, Opposition Coalition Spokesman]:
"The opposition maintains their call for mobilization and demonstrations until we see concrete facts on the establishment of the Independent Electoral Commission and the beginning of its work."
Mady says the opposition will accept a new president and four new vice presidents, so long as the rest of the poll body remains intact. The announcement came after talks were mediated by Burkina Faso President Blaise Compaore.
However, public anger is still mounting over years of delays. The situation escalated in recent days, after security forces fired on protesters last week, killing at least five, and another two this week.
The hospital was swamped with people wounded by rocks and stray bullets. But most of the 15 people injured were released home by yesterday.
[Marcelin Kouame, Doctor]:
"We are still treating three people here and from these three people one is still in surgery, my colleague is operating on him."
A nurse at the hospital says the country risks falling into chaos, if the violence isn't stopped.
[Arnaud Germain Koiblin, Nurse]:
"If we don't have a government which can help the country move forward, I think we risk to fall into chaos."
[Lamidi Aramu, Nigerian Hair Stylist]:
“If there is no peace we don't know what to do, that's why we want the peace to come back. Whether it's a new government, or another solution, I don't mind, what's important is that the peace comes back.”
Gbagbo dissolved the electoral commission after accusing its chief Robert Mambe of illegally adding names to the electoral register to boost the opposition vote.
At least seven were killed by security forces, but protesters say that demonstrations will continue.
[Alphonse Djedje Mady, Opposition Coalition Spokesman]:
"The opposition maintains their call for mobilization and demonstrations until we see concrete facts on the establishment of the Independent Electoral Commission and the beginning of its work."
Mady says the opposition will accept a new president and four new vice presidents, so long as the rest of the poll body remains intact. The announcement came after talks were mediated by Burkina Faso President Blaise Compaore.
However, public anger is still mounting over years of delays. The situation escalated in recent days, after security forces fired on protesters last week, killing at least five, and another two this week.
The hospital was swamped with people wounded by rocks and stray bullets. But most of the 15 people injured were released home by yesterday.
[Marcelin Kouame, Doctor]:
"We are still treating three people here and from these three people one is still in surgery, my colleague is operating on him."
A nurse at the hospital says the country risks falling into chaos, if the violence isn't stopped.
[Arnaud Germain Koiblin, Nurse]:
"If we don't have a government which can help the country move forward, I think we risk to fall into chaos."
[Lamidi Aramu, Nigerian Hair Stylist]:
“If there is no peace we don't know what to do, that's why we want the peace to come back. Whether it's a new government, or another solution, I don't mind, what's important is that the peace comes back.”
Gbagbo dissolved the electoral commission after accusing its chief Robert Mambe of illegally adding names to the electoral register to boost the opposition vote.