Military

DATE=11/03/00

TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT

NUMBER=2-268794

TITLE=IVORY COAST / GUEI (L-ONLY)

BYLINE=LUIS RAMIREZ

DATELINE=ABIDJAN

CONTENT:

VOICED AT:

INTRO: The whereabouts of Ivory Coast's former military ruler, General Robert Guei, remains unknown, more than a week after he was forced out of power. V-O-A's Luis Ramirez in Ivory Coast's commercial capital, Abidjan, reports the process of reconciliation continues following the violent clashes that surrounded the general's ouster.

TEXT: Shortly after the general's departure from the presidency last week, Western diplomats said he had gone to Benin. Since then, it has not been clear where he is, with some reports saying he is still in Ivory Coast, hiding in a village near Abidjan. Many Ivorians, like this man, believe the general should return to Abidjan so he can answer some questions, including why his troops fired on demonstrators.

/// ACT IN FRENCH, ESTABLISH & FADE ///

He says, "we marched. There were many among us who died." He says, "we think that with the democratic movement that has begun here, Guei should be arrested and put on trial."

General Guei fled after angry demonstrators took to the streets last week when he claimed victory in the October 22nd presidential elections in which socialist Laurent Gbagbo won a majority of votes. ///OPT/// The elections returned Ivory Coast to civilian rule following the military coup that had put General Guei in power last December. /// END OPT ///

Many Ivorians interviewed by V-O-A on the streets of Abidjan say what is most important now is moving ahead to reconcile ethnic and political differences in order to prevent the violence from happening again.

President Gbagbo's government has placed the number of dead from the street clashes last week at more than 100, but human rights advocates say as many as 500 may have been killed.

The Ivorian government has declared November 9th a national day of mourning. Officials plan to erect a memorial in Abidjan for those who died in the post-election violence.

In a stark departure from tradition in this West African country, the Gbagbo government has banned the placement of portraits of the president in airports and other public places. The move is meant to end what officials say was a cult of personality surrounding the head of state. (Signed)

NEB/LR/KL/TDW