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Human rights abuses continue to be reported in Côte d'Ivoire - UN mission

Human rights abuses continue to be reported in Côte d'Ivoire - UN mission

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Human rights abuses in Côte d'Ivoire are giving rise to concern, with cases of arbitrary arrests, incommunicado detention and forced disappearances continuing to be reported nationwide after the resurgence of violence in the West African country earlier this month, the United Nations mission said today.

The Human Rights Office in Bouaké in the rebel-held north reported yesterday increasing cases of forced disappearances, arrests and detention of people accused of supporting President Laurent Gbagbo, the UN Operation in Côte d'Ivoire (UNOCI) added in its second such warning on abuses in five days.

In this connection, the rebel Forces Nouvelles has proposed the nomination of a liaison officer with the mandate to interact on human rights issues with the Bouaké Human Rights Office, the mission added.

Last Friday it said summary executions, torture, rape, disappearances, arbitrary arrests and destruction of property continued to be reported throughout Côte d'Ivoire, both in Government- and rebel-controlled zones and in the UN-patrolled Zone of Confidence (ZOC) separating the combatants.

The latest crisis began 4 November when Government forces bombed rebel positions in the ZOC. Two days later Government forces bombed French peacekeepers there, killing nine, and French troops destroyed the Government's air force in retaliation, leading to widespread rioting, looting and harassment of foreigners.

More than 10,000 Ivorians, mostly women and children, fled into neighbouring Liberia, itself struggling to recover after 14 years of vicious civil war, and thousands of foreigners were air-lifted out of Abidjan, the country's largest city.