Ivory Coast: UN experts attacked in Yamoussoukro

[maddezmom]

Source: BBC

Ivory Coast is at risk of relapsing into civil war, the UN says


United Nations experts in Ivory Coast came under fire as they were trying to investigate reports of a violation of the arms embargo imposed on the country, the global body says.

The UN team was attacked in the capital, Yamoussoukro.

They were looking into reports that Belarus had provided attack helicopters for supporters of Laurent Gbagbo, who refuses to give up the presidency.

Belarus has denied the allegations as "groundless".



Read more: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-12605096

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UN charge on Ivorian arms smuggling is denied
TIM COCKS

Confusion surrounded UN charges on Monday that Belarus had broken an arms embargo against Côte d'Ivoire by delivering attack helicopters to Laurent Gbagbo, the leader who has refused to step down after a disputed election.

Gbagbo's government denied the report as a "lie" and UN diplomats said the allegation had not been confirmed. UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, whose office initially leveled the charge, later softened the allegation in comments to reporters.

A UN spokesperson indicated the accusation was based on reports received by UN-appointed experts monitoring the embargo.

"We're trying to figure out if this allegation is credible," a Security Council diplomat told Reuters.



http://www.mg.co.za/article/2011-03-01-un-charge-on-ivorian-arms-smuggling-is-denied/