ITUC OnLine – March 4, 2011
March 7, 2011
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Brussels, 4 March 2011 (ITUC OnLine): Côte d’Ivoire is moving perilously close to civil war. On Thursday 3 March there was fresh violence which led to the death of at least six women, shot by security forces loyal to the outgoing President, Laurent Gbagbo, while dispersing a rally in a district that supports Alassane Ouattara.
According to information received by the ITUC from UN sources, over 200,000 people have fled the Abobo district, the scene of violent confrontations between supporters of the two presidential candidates. “The violence must end now,” said Sharan Burrow, general secretary of the ITUC. “The high turnout by the workers and people of the Côte d’Ivoire in the second round of the presidential election was a clear demonstration of their wish to see democracy established in their country.”
The ITUC believes the will of the people must be respected, and the position of the United Nations, if the Côte d’Ivoire is to overcome the political crisis that has persisted since 2002. The confrontations and daily tension are having a disastrous impact on the living and working conditions of the Ivorian people.
The ITUC represents 176 million workers in 301 affiliated national organisations from 151 countries and territories.
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