07.11.2004, 23:16
<!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://www.zaman.com/?bl=international&alt=&hn=13673">http://www.zaman.com/?bl=international&alt=&hn=13673</a><!-- m -->
France Returned from the Edge of War with Its Former Colony
In an attack organized by government forces against a military base used by French soldiers in the West African country Ivory Coast, nine French soldiers and an American civilian were killed and 23 French soldiers were wounded.
Following the incident, French President Jacques Chirac ordered Ivory Coast war planes to be destroyed. Immediately after the announcement, French war planes destroyed two Ivory Coast war planes and a helicopter in the capital Yamassukro at a base belonging to government. Attacks against Ivory Coast air defense by French war planes has reportedly been continuing.
It has also been reported that conflicts occurred between French and Ivory Coast soldiers using the military base in common at Abican, the commercial capital of the country. Upon the developments, France sent three Mirage war planes to the Ivory Coast. Ivory Coast military officials have argued that they bombarded the French military base by mistake and their real targets were opponents in the attacks against rebels which have been continuing for three days. President Laurent Gbagbo gave a directive to stop the attacks against the French.
40-45 percent of the former French colony's population of 17 million is Muslim. The predominantly Muslim north of the country has had de facto control of almost half of the country since September 2002 based on their accusation that the Christian government was applying discrimination towards them. Government forces last week resumed attacks against the north to reestablish control over the country. 6,000 United Nations (UN) peacekeepers are positioned between the north and the south of the country as well as 4,000 French peacekeepers. The attacked French military base is in Bouake, which functions as the main base of the opponents.
Africa in Chaos: Coup in Ghana
After the developments in Darfur region of Sudan, the chaos in the Ivory Coast and the blocking of an attempted coup in Ghana yesterday attracted the world's attention back to Africa.
In the attacks in the Ivory Coast, a French high school building was also damaged, and mass demonstrations against France have reportedly been attended by thousands of people. Regions where French live in Abican have also reportedly been plundered.
While the UN met immediately to discuss the latest developments and harsh announcements were made by France and the EU. The EU announced that it condemns the attacks and called on the Ivory Coast to stop the military operations.
France Returned from the Edge of War with Its Former Colony
In an attack organized by government forces against a military base used by French soldiers in the West African country Ivory Coast, nine French soldiers and an American civilian were killed and 23 French soldiers were wounded.
Following the incident, French President Jacques Chirac ordered Ivory Coast war planes to be destroyed. Immediately after the announcement, French war planes destroyed two Ivory Coast war planes and a helicopter in the capital Yamassukro at a base belonging to government. Attacks against Ivory Coast air defense by French war planes has reportedly been continuing.
It has also been reported that conflicts occurred between French and Ivory Coast soldiers using the military base in common at Abican, the commercial capital of the country. Upon the developments, France sent three Mirage war planes to the Ivory Coast. Ivory Coast military officials have argued that they bombarded the French military base by mistake and their real targets were opponents in the attacks against rebels which have been continuing for three days. President Laurent Gbagbo gave a directive to stop the attacks against the French.
40-45 percent of the former French colony's population of 17 million is Muslim. The predominantly Muslim north of the country has had de facto control of almost half of the country since September 2002 based on their accusation that the Christian government was applying discrimination towards them. Government forces last week resumed attacks against the north to reestablish control over the country. 6,000 United Nations (UN) peacekeepers are positioned between the north and the south of the country as well as 4,000 French peacekeepers. The attacked French military base is in Bouake, which functions as the main base of the opponents.
Africa in Chaos: Coup in Ghana
After the developments in Darfur region of Sudan, the chaos in the Ivory Coast and the blocking of an attempted coup in Ghana yesterday attracted the world's attention back to Africa.
In the attacks in the Ivory Coast, a French high school building was also damaged, and mass demonstrations against France have reportedly been attended by thousands of people. Regions where French live in Abican have also reportedly been plundered.
While the UN met immediately to discuss the latest developments and harsh announcements were made by France and the EU. The EU announced that it condemns the attacks and called on the Ivory Coast to stop the military operations.