• Military Menu                       

• Introduction
• Systems
• Facilities
• Agencies
• Industry
• Operations
• Countries
• Hot Documents
• News
• Reports
• Policy
• Budget
• Congress
• Links

• WMD
• Intelligence
• Homeland Security
• Space

DATE=12/23/1999
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=IVORY COAST UNREST (L)
NUMBER=2-257434
BYLINE=CHALLISS MCDONOUGH
DATELINE=NAIROBI
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO:  Soldiers have taken to the streets in Ivory 
Coast, demanding back pay.  There have been no 
reported civilian casualties, but it is not clear how 
widespread the uprising is.  V-O-A's Challiss 
McDonough reports. 
TEXT:  Groups of soldiers in the commercial capital, 
Abidjan, began rampaging through the streets, firing 
automatic weapons into the air. 
Witnesses say the soldiers have not been aiming at 
people, but there is panic as terrified residents 
scramble to evade the troops.  
The soldiers have reportedly worked their way through 
several areas of the city, including the 
administrative district, Le Plateau.  They have 
invaded the state radio and television headquarters, 
and both stations have gone off the air.
Witnesses say heavily armed soldiers have stormed and 
looted local shops and seized civilian automobiles.  
The troops have reportedly blocked several major 
roads, including one leading to the nearby town of 
Bingerville, east of Abidjan.  A key military outpost 
- Camp Akouedo - is located on that road.
The reason for the uprising is not immediately clear, 
but news reports from Abidjan say the troops are angry 
because they have not been fully paid for serving with 
the U-N peacekeeping force in the Central African 
Republic.  
The extent of the rebellion is also not known.  There 
has been no immediate response from the Ivorian 
government.
The uprising comes amid weeks of political tension 
between the government and opposition leaders over 
presidential elections scheduled for next year.  
            // REST OPT // 
Wednesday, President Henri Konan Bedie went on 
national television to appeal for calm and dignity 
during the election season.  In an unprecedented 
speech before parliament, he urged the opposition to 
cooperate with the government, and offered conditional 
amnesty to the jailed leaders of an opposition party, 
the Rally of the Republicans.  
Party chairman and presidential candidate, Alassane 
Ouattara; has accused the government of harassing his 
followers.  Last month, police imprisoned a number of 
party leaders and issued an arrest warrant for Mr. 
Ouattara.  He is out of the country.   (SIGNED)
NEB/CM/GE/LTD/RAE 
23-Dec-1999 14:28 PM EDT (23-Dec-1999 1928 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
.