Security Council condemns massacres of civilians in western Côte d'Ivoire

The United Nations Security Council today strongly condemned the recent massacres of civilians in the western Côte d'Ivoire town of Duékoué, and urged Ivorian authorities to conduct an inquiry into the killings immediately so the perpetrators can be brought to justice and condemned.

In a statement to the press following a briefing by a senior UN official on the incident, Ambassador Jean-Marc de la Sablière of France, Council President for the month of June, said the 15-nation body had called on the Ivorian parties to refrain from any hostile action and warned them against any escalation of violence.

Mr. de la Sablière said the Council also recalled that the Ivorian authorities are responsible for ensuring the security of civilians and for promoting respect for human rights.

"The members of the Security Council reiterate their full support to the United Nations Operation in Côte d'Ivoire (UNOCI), which intervened to work towards the stabilization of the situation, and to the French forces who supported this intervention," he said.

Ambassador de la Sablière said that the Council would remain vigilant and follow closely the evolution of the security situation in and around Duékoué, as well as throughout Côte d'Ivoire.