Military

DATE=11/02/00

TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT

NUMBER=2-268745

TITLE=IVORY COAST (L-O)

BYLINE=LUIS RAMIREZ

DATELINE=ABIDJAN

CONTENT:

VOICED AT:

INTRO: Political and religious leaders in Ivory Coast are working for reconciliation following clashes that killed hundreds of people after the October 22nd elections. V-O-A's Luis Ramirez reports from Ivory Coast's main city, Abidjan.

TEXT: Many of the dead have yet to be buried, and the political crisis that plunged this West African country into the worst bout of ethnic and religious violence in its history, has yet to be resolved.

Christians, Muslims, representatives of various political factions, and security forces have formed a commission to open a dialogue among the various groups.

The fighting erupted last week when then-military ruler General Robert Guei proclaimed himself the winner of the October 22nd elections, despite a victory by socialist Laurent Gbagbo. Demonstrators poured into the streets, confronting General Guei's soldiers. The demonstrations forced the general to flee, landing Laurent Gbagbo in the presidency.

The clashes continued when supporters of former Prime Minister Alassane Ouattara, a Muslim, took to the streets demanding new elections on the grounds that Mr. Ouattara, and other candidates, had been excluded from the presidential race.

The fighting pitted backers of Mr. Gbagbo, who draws his support from mostly Christian southern and western Ivory Coast, against supporters of Mr. Ouattara, whose main base is the Muslim north.

A number of churches and mosques were set on fire during the fighting. Muslim leaders also accuse security forces of siding with Gbagbo supporters against Dioula-speaking Muslims.

Families continued to line up at morgues in Abidjan to identify and claim the bodies of victims that turned up in the days after the street confrontations. (SIGNED)

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