Global General

Cote d'Ivoire police disperse pro-Ouattara youths

(Agencies)
Updated: 2010-12-28 17:51

ABIDJAN - Cote d'Ivoire police on Monday dispersed groups of youths allied to Alassane Ouattara in the populous district of Abobo in northern Abidjan, where is situated Ouattara's stronghold.

At around 10 am, the youths regrouped along the main streets of Abobo district, discussing loudly the current issues especially about the general strike dubbed "operation dead country". The operation was launched by the Rally of Houphouetists for Democracy and Peace (RHDP), a pro-Ouattara coalition.

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The police patrol vehicles going through the district were met with a hostile reception from these youths, the officers said, adding they reacted by throwing at them tear gas canisters which dispersed them.

However, a few minutes later, other youth groups assembled to march on the security forces, who dispersed them again by using tear gas.

Even though activities within Abobo district were slightly affected on Monday, the general strike called by Ouattara had little effect in the city.

The RHDP launched "operation dead country", calling on everyone to stop reporting to their work stations until Gbagbo leaves power.

A post-election crisis which has been marked by violence and killings has been witnessed in Cote d'Ivoire since the end of the presidential run-off on November 28.

The country finds itself with two governments after Ouattara and Gbagbo were sworn in as presidents and named a prime minister on either side.

The United Nations, the African Union and the West African bloc ECOWAS have all thrown their support behind Ouattara, who was declared president by the country's Independent Electoral Commission (CEI) to the detriment of Gbagbo, who was declared the winner by the Constitutional Council.

On Tuesday, ECOWAS is expected to send to Abidjan the presidents of Benin, Cape Verde and Sierra Leone to try and persuade Gbagbo to leave power.

Gbagbo has insisted on several occasions that he is the president of the republic, and has vowed not to hand over power to Ouattara.