Military

DATE=10/26/00

TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT

NUMBER=2-268483

TITLE=IVORY COAST / VIOLENCE (L)

BYLINE=LUIS RAMIREZ

DATELINE=ABIDJAN

CONTENT:

VOICED AT:

INTRO: There were clashes in Ivory Coast a day after the departure of former military ruler General Robert Guei. Correspondent Luis Ramirez in Abidjan, reports at least 10-people have died in street battles between supporters of rival political groups.

TEXT: The violence broke out when supporters of opposition leader Alassane Ouattara took to the streets, smashing car windows, setting tires ablaze, and erecting roadblocks in some of Abidjan's outlying districts (Abobo, Yopougon, Adjame, and Cocody).

Ouattara supporters battled against supporters of Laurent Gbagbo, the man who came to power following General Guei's departure. They say Mr. Gbagbo is not entitled to be president. They are demanding new elections, claiming those held on October 22nd are not valid because General Guei's government barred most opposition candidates, including Mr. Ouattara, from running.

Police stormed the home of Mr. Ouattara in Abidjan in what officials with Mr. Ouattara's Assembly of the Republicans (R-D-R) party say was an attempt to arrest him.

This Ouattara supporter at the home spoke to V-O-A as he held a firebomb in his hand. He defends the R-D-R supporters' decision to riot, saying their anger is justified because he believes their candidate was unfairly excluded from the presidential race.

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He says, if this injustice continues, violence will be imposed. Because of this injustice, violence must happen in order to bring peace. He says, it is not our fault that this violence is happening.

Mr. Ouattara draws much of his support from the Dioula-speaking Muslims of northern Ivory Coast. They complain that Christian southerners have long shut them out of positions of power. In Thursday's violence, a number of churches and mosques came under attack.

The new government of Laurent Gbagbo announced that a curfew and state of emergency would be in force through Saturday.

Unrest paralyzed Abidjan for a third day, forcing shops, schools and embassies to remain closed. It began just as sweepers started to clean debris off the streets from the demonstrations Tuesday and Wednesday that forced General Guei to flee.

General Guei left the presidency after two-days of violent demonstrations that broke out after he tried to declare himself the winner of the elections, despite returns that showed Mr. Gbagbo was ahead. Wednesday, the National Electoral Commission released what it said were the true results of the election, showing Mr. Gbagbo had won about 59-percent of the vote, compared to General Guei, who drew about 32-percent.

Mr. Gbagbo was sworn in (Thursday) as president of Ivory Coast, marking the return of civilian rule to the West African country, 10-months after the December coup that had put General Robert Guei in power. (SIGNED)

NEB/LR/GE/RAE