W African leaders meet on I. Coast

Wed Mar 23, 2011

Leaders of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) have gathered in Nigeria's capital Abuja to discuss issues including Ivory Coast's deadly political crisis.

12 of the 15 members of ECOWAS started a two-day summit in Abuja on Wednesday, calling for a firmer stance from the United Nations on the crisis in Ivory Coast, Reuters reported.

"I believe we can pass a resolution to request the United Nations to take little more serious steps in the Cote d'Ivoire situation," Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan said.

Jonathan also warned the African leaders against “underestimating the threat” that insecurity in Ivory Coast could pose to the region.

ECOWAS had previously threatened to resort to force against the incumbent Ivorian President Laurent Gbagbo, who has defiantly refused to hand over presidency to his rival Alassane Ouattara, recognized by the UN and the African Union as the rightful winner of November elections.

Meanwhile, UN aid agencies are warning that the situation in Ivory Coast is becoming a forgotten catastrophe as the world focuses on Libya and Japan.

About 500,000 people have fled the violence in Ivory Coast. The UN says escalating tensions in the major city of Abidjan has forced a daily number of 10,000 to escape to safer areas.

A UN appeal for 32 million dollars to help Ivorians has received just 7 million dollars so far. Around 400 people have died since the disputed presidential poll.

Source: PressTV.
Link: http://www.presstv.ir/detail/171408.html.