Mon, 03 Jan 2011
Nairobi/Abidjan - Kenya's prime minister on Monday joined three West African heads of state in Ivory Coast in the latest attempt to persuade defiant strongman Laurent Gbagbo to leave power.
Gbagbo has resisted fierce international pressure to hand over power to his rival Alassane Ouattara - the man the world recognizes as the rightful winner of November's presidential election - in a standoff that has claimed over 170 lives.
The 15-member Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) last week sent the presidents of Benin, Sierra Leone and Cape Verde to Ivory Coast with a warning to Gbagbo he could face military intervention if he does not step down.
Gbagbo, who insists he is Ivory Coast's true leader, rejected the message, as he has brushed off European Union and United States travel bans, as well as aid freezes from bodies such as the World Bank.
The trio, this time accompanied by Raila Odinga on behalf of the African Union, met Gbagbo for two hours, although they revealed little about their discussion other than saying it was "useful."
However, earlier comments indicate an amnesty offer for Gbagbo now appears to be on the table.
Odinga's spokesman on Sunday said the Kenyan premier would "seek a peaceful settlement to the election crisis ... and seek an assurance of safety and security for Mr Laurent Gbagbo ... if he agrees to cede power."
This is a significant softening of tone from Odinga, who had earlier called on the African Union to "grow teeth" and use force to remove Gbagbo.
Many observers feel ECOWAS will be reluctant to insert a military force given the negative implications for regional security and upcoming elections in Nigeria, which would be the most likely candidate for providing troops.
The delegation was also due to meet Ouattara, who is trying to run an alternative government from a United Nations-protected hotel in the economic capital Abidjan.
The elections were supposed to open a more positive chapter in Ivory Coast's history eight years after civil war split the West African nation into the mainly Muslim north, which backs Ouattara, and Christian south, where Gbagbo holds sway.
Instead, the polls only highlighted north-south divisions after a Gbagbo ally on the constitutional council overturned electoral commission results proclaiming Ouattara the winner.
The United Nations has accused pro-Gbagbo forces of extrajudicial killings and disappearances of Ouattara supporters.
Nairobi/Abidjan - Kenya's prime minister on Monday joined three West African heads of state in Ivory Coast in the latest attempt to persuade defiant strongman Laurent Gbagbo to leave power.
Gbagbo has resisted fierce international pressure to hand over power to his rival Alassane Ouattara - the man the world recognizes as the rightful winner of November's presidential election - in a standoff that has claimed over 170 lives.
The 15-member Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) last week sent the presidents of Benin, Sierra Leone and Cape Verde to Ivory Coast with a warning to Gbagbo he could face military intervention if he does not step down.
Gbagbo, who insists he is Ivory Coast's true leader, rejected the message, as he has brushed off European Union and United States travel bans, as well as aid freezes from bodies such as the World Bank.
The trio, this time accompanied by Raila Odinga on behalf of the African Union, met Gbagbo for two hours, although they revealed little about their discussion other than saying it was "useful."
However, earlier comments indicate an amnesty offer for Gbagbo now appears to be on the table.
Odinga's spokesman on Sunday said the Kenyan premier would "seek a peaceful settlement to the election crisis ... and seek an assurance of safety and security for Mr Laurent Gbagbo ... if he agrees to cede power."
This is a significant softening of tone from Odinga, who had earlier called on the African Union to "grow teeth" and use force to remove Gbagbo.
Many observers feel ECOWAS will be reluctant to insert a military force given the negative implications for regional security and upcoming elections in Nigeria, which would be the most likely candidate for providing troops.
The delegation was also due to meet Ouattara, who is trying to run an alternative government from a United Nations-protected hotel in the economic capital Abidjan.
The elections were supposed to open a more positive chapter in Ivory Coast's history eight years after civil war split the West African nation into the mainly Muslim north, which backs Ouattara, and Christian south, where Gbagbo holds sway.
Instead, the polls only highlighted north-south divisions after a Gbagbo ally on the constitutional council overturned electoral commission results proclaiming Ouattara the winner.
The United Nations has accused pro-Gbagbo forces of extrajudicial killings and disappearances of Ouattara supporters.
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