DATE=12/26/1999
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=IVORY COAST (L UPDATE)
NUMBER=2-257514
BYLINE=CHALLISS MCDONOUGH
DATELINE=NAIROBI
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: France says it has flown the deposed president
of Ivory Coast out of his country, three-days after
the start of a military uprising that led to his
downfall. V-O-A's Challiss McDonough reports,
meanwhile the country's new military rulers are trying
to get the government up and running again.
TEXT: The French foreign ministry says ousted
President Henri Konan Bedie has left Ivory Coast on a
French aircraft at his own request. A French
spokeswoman says the Ivorian president has gone to
Lome, the capital of nearby Togo.
Officials say family members and some close associates
accompanied him.
The Reuters news agency says he left behind his prime
minister and defense minister under French protection.
The president's departure had been delayed, reportedly
because of a dispute over whether they could accompany
him into exile.
The leader of the military junta, General Robert Guei,
said he would not allow cabinet members to leave the
country. The general says top officials must remain
in the country to insure a smooth transition to the
new government.
He and the other members of the ruling military
council have been meeting with top officials from the
deposed civilian administration in an effort to get
the country back on its feet.
Reports from Abidjan say Ivory Coast's main city is
calm after days of unrest that followed the military
uprising that toppled the president.
General Guei says he has taken steps to end the
looting that has devastated the city. He says he
wants life there to return to normal as soon as
possible. He told members of the ousted president's
government to report to work as usual Monday.
The general also says he wants to reopen the main
airport Monday, in part so the country's two main
opposition leaders can return from exile and join in
talks aimed at building a government.
/// REST OPT ///
General Guei had vowed to keep the airport closed
until President Bedie left the country.
Details of the president's evacuation are sketchy, and
it is not clear whether he will remain in Togo or seek
refuge in another country. It had earlier been
rumored that he would go to France.
Mr. Bedie had taken refuge at a French military base
before his departure.
On Saturday, the general warned against foreign
military intervention in Ivory Coast, saying it could
lead to bloodshed.
The warning came as France said it was boosting its
military presence in the region in case French
nationals need to be evacuated. There are already
hundreds of French troops in Ivory Coast, and General
Guei says France does not need to send any more.
(SIGNED)
NEB/CEM/JWH/RAE
26-Dec-1999 11:28 AM EDT (26-Dec-1999 1628 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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