ABIDJAN, Ivory Coast — A youth leader who backs the president clinging to power in Ivory Coast has called on people to chase out foreigners from their neighborhoods, while the U.N. expressed alarm about a “disturbing escalation” in violence in recent days.
The comments by Charles Ble Goude raise new concerns for the safety of U.N. personnel and other international workers in Ivory Coast. Reports surfaced of French women being gang-raped. Goude already has been sanctioned by the U.N. for inciting hatred, and youths led by him attacked French citizens in 2004.
Goude said Friday that the political crisis in Ivory Coast was coming to a head three months after the disputed election, and he said now is the time for “real” Ivorians to protect the country.
Front Section, Pages 12 on 02/27/2011