Military

DATE=5/21/2004

TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT

TITLE=IVORY COAST / POLITICS (L-ONLY)

NUMBER=2-316105

BYLINE=CARRIE GIARDINO

DATELINE=ABIDJAN

INTRO: A group of women supporters of Ivory Coast President Laurent Gbagbo protested outside of the United Nations headquarters in Abidjan Friday, despite an appeal by the U-N Secretary General to Mr. Gbagbo to stop the demonstration. Carrie Giardino reports from Abidjan.

TEXT: /// INSERT NAT SOUND EST AND FADE UNDER ///

Hundreds of women gathered near the entrance to the U-N compound in Abidjan, known as ONUCI, to demand the disarmament of rebels in the divided west African nation.

/// INSERT CHANT ONUCI DISARMAMENT FADE UNDER ///

The women, who were blowing whistles and beating drums, carried signs that said "We are tired. Start disarmament."

On Thursday, the U-N special representative in Ivory Coast, Albert Tevoedjre, sent an appeal to President Laurent Gbagbo requesting the Ivorian government intervene to stop the demonstrations organized by his supporters.

The letter, written on behalf of Secretary General Kofi Annan, said the government had a legal responsibility to protect the U-N interests and property in Abidjan.

The government deployed nearly two-hundred police and national security officers to protect the headquarters.

One of the leaders and organizers of the women's march, Bro Gregbe, says the United Nations is in Ivory Coast only to carry out the disarmament of the rebel factions, who attempted to overthrow President Gbagbo in September 2002.

/// GREGBE ACT ///

We are here to tell the U-N that they came here just for one thing, to take the weapons out of the rebels (hands). That's why they are here. It seems they don't know why they are here, so we came to tell them.

/// END ACT ///

Ms. Gregbe says the U-N must begin the disarmament campaign by the end of May, or the organizations aligned with President Gbagbo will begin the process themselves.

/// SECOND GREGBE ACT ///

We are going to put pressure on the international community to say that we are fed up. We need peace. We need peace today. We need peace for our development. Women need peace. The only one thing that will bring peace in Cote d'Ivoire is disarmament.

/// END ACT ///

Anti-U-N protests by Gbagbo supporters followed the release of a U-N report blaming Ivory Coast's highest authorities for directing savage attacks on opposition demonstrators in a late March protest, in which, the report said, 120 people died. The U-N Security Council last week condemned the government for human rights violations.

The demonstrators were demanding the implementation of a 15-month-old peace agreement between rebels in the north and government loyalists, aimed at ending violence and setting up a transitional government.

Earlier this week, President Gbagbo fired three rebel opposition ministers from the transitional Cabinet, a move the rebels said killed the French-brokered peace agreement.

U-N Secretary General Annan has appealed to all sides to continue talks, and maintain the established reconciliation government in order to continue the peace process. (SIGNED)

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