Post date: Dec 05, 2010 5:45:28 PM
Former South African President Thabo Mbeki is in Ivory Coast to help to mediate a dispute over an election which was meant to resolve a decade of conflict, but has only deepened divisions.
ABIDJAN, IVORY COAST (DECEMBER 5, 2010) REUTERS - Former South African president Thabo Mbeki was in Abidjan on Sunday (December 5) to try and mediate an end to a dispute over Ivory Coast's presidential election.
The November 28 poll, designed to reunite a country split after a 2002-2003 civil war, has raised tensions as both incumbent Laurent Gbagbo and his challenger Alassane Ouattara have claimed victory and taken presidential oaths.Gbagbo was sworn in as president on Saturday (December 4) after the consitutional council, whose leader is an ally of the incumbent president, overturned an electoral commission declaration of Ouattara as winner. Ouattara has submitted a rival oath and vowed to form a parallel government. The U.N. says Ouattara is the rightful victor.
Thabo Mbeki spent the day holding meetings with the different parties in Ivory Coast.
"We are now going to meet Alassane Ouattara because we need to hear what he has to say. We will also meet with the constitutional council. We've already met with the special representative of the Secretary General of the U.N., Mr Choi. So we want to have those meetings today in order to understand the point of view of everybody, of all sides," Mbeki told journalists. "We want to hear all points of view about this matter before we can make any recommendations about what to do."
Security was strengthened outside the U.N.-guarded Abidjan hotel Ouattara is using as headquarters. Mbeki was expected to visit there later in the day.
South African officials said the Mbeki visit was due to last one day. Few observers hope for an immediate breakthrough.