Military

DATE=11/13/00

TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT

NUMBER=2-269176

TITLE=IVORY COAST / GUEI (L-ONLY)

BYLINE=LUIS RAMIREZ

DATELINE=ABIDJAN

CONTENT:

VOICED AT:

INTRO: Ivory Coast's former military ruler, Robert Guei, has made his first public appearance since going into hiding after he was forced out of power last month. V-O-A's Luis Ramirez in Abidjan reports the ousted leader joined calls for reconciliation in the country.

TEXT: General Robert Guei held what is described as a surprise meeting with new civilian President Laurent Gbagbo. The meeting Monday took place in Ivory Coast's capital, Yamoussoukro, where General Guei and President Gbagbo appeared before reporters and delivered a message of reconciliation.

It was just over two weeks ago that supporters of Mr. Gbagbo took to the streets and forced General Guei out of power after he tried to declare himself the winner of presidential elections despite a victory by Mr. Gbagbo.

The violence is described as the worst in Ivory Coast's 40-year history as an independent nation, with as many as 200 people killed in three days of street clashes.

For Ivorians on the streets of the main city, Abidjan, the memory of General Guei's soldiers firing into the crowds of demonstrators is still fresh. This man says he believes General Guei's emergence from hiding is a good thing for the sake of national reconciliation, but he says the general should be held accountable for the atrocities committed by his soldiers.

/// MAN ON THE STREET ACT ///

We must punish him, because there are many people who died. So we think that is not good. And when you see all the things that happened in our country, we must remember and we cannot forget it. So we must punish Guei Robert. (correct)

/// END ACT ///

General Guei ruled Ivory Coast for ten months following the country's first coup. He promised to return the country to civilian rule but upset members of the international community when he announced his candidacy for the presidency.

/// OPT /// He triggered further criticism in Ivory Coast and abroad when his government barred opposition leader Alassane Ouattara, who enjoys a strong following among the country's large Muslim Dioula-speaking population, from running against him in the elections. /// END OPT ///

In remarks Monday in Yamoussoukro, President Gbagbo said he would not judge General Guei or serve as a policeman. He said the general should quietly return to his village (Kabacouma) in western Ivory Coast. (Signed)

NEB/LR/KL/JWH