Military

DATE=3/27/2004

TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT

TITLE=IVORY COAST / OPPOSITION (L-O)

NUMBER=2-314521

BYLINE=NICO COLOMBANT

DATELINE=ABIDJAN

CONTENT=

VOICED AT:

INTRO: The opposition in Ivory Coast says hundreds of people have been killed and thousands detained in a security crackdown on an anti-government protest that started Thursday. The opposition parties also rejected an appeal by the president to rejoin a national unity government. A spokesman for the northern rebels called for the president's resignation. V-O-A's Nico Colombant reports from the southern commercial capital, Abidjan.

TEXT: Government opposition leaders said Saturday as many as 300 people have been killed since the government security forces' crackdown on demonstrators demanding the implementation of a peace agreement. They say their body count is based on hospital and neighborhood reports.

Western diplomats put the death toll at about 120 on Friday, but said killings continued overnight.

Witnesses in opposition strongholds of Abidjan, such as the poor areas of Abobo and Treichville, say security forces and armed youth groups close to President Laurent Gbagbo raided homes, abducted thousands of people and shot those who resisted arrest.

Authorities said 25 people were killed Thursday, including two police officers in the Abobo area, but have not updated that number since then.

United Nations spokesman Jean Victor Nkolo says his initial death toll estimate, based on reports from morgues, witnesses, U-N military observers and other sources is much higher than the official count, but would not give out a figure.

/// NKOLO ACT ///

We need to gather all these facts, check and double-check them very carefully, before we can ascertain the exact toll of the casualties. Before that it will be very difficult for us to give a figure.

/// END ACT ///

Opposition leader, Djedje Mady, from the former ruling party, the P-D-C-I, accuses Mr. Gbagbo of killing civilians for no justifiable reason.

/// MADY ACT IN FRENCH FADED UNDER ///

He also says opposition parties will not rejoin a national unity government because they disagree with Mr. Gbagbo's policies.

In a televised speech late Friday, Mr. Gbagbo congratulated his security forces for preventing what he called a renewed attempt to overthrow him.

/// GBAGBO ACT IN FRENCH FADED UNDER ///

He also called on the opposition to hold talks with him starting Monday and rejoin the government to discuss implementing a stalled peace deal with northern-based rebels.

Thursday's demonstration was organized to pressure President Gbagbo to implement a 14-month-old peace agreement brokered by the French government.

Under the peace accord, northerners, many of whom are considered aliens, would be given the right to vote. Opposition leaders accuse Mr. Gbagbo of stalling for fear the implementation of the peace agreement might cost him his job in the 2005 election.

Rebel leaders, who control the north of Ivory Coast, on Saturday repeated their call for President Gbagbo's resignation. The rebels did not take part in the protest. They have refused to disarm and give up control of the north until the peace agreement is implemented. (SIGNED)

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