ugnet_: Ivory Coast youth called to arms-BBC

[Omar Kezimbira]

Saturday, 7 December, 2002, 22:01 GMT Ivory Coast youth called to arms Thousands have fled the latest fighting in western Ivory Coast The Government of Ivory Coast has called on young men to volunteer en masse for the army in what it is calling a mobilisation against the almost three-month-long rebellion. All men aged 20-26 have been asked to turn up at army headquarters on Tuesday. Ivorians are showing the desire to go to the front and they should be satisfied Bertin Kadet, Defence Minister The call comes amid more reported fighting in the west of the country where mercenaries have been seen heading towards the front alongside the Ivory Coast army. The government also promised an international inquiry into a mass grave in the western village of Monoko-Zohi which contained bodies of 120 men, mostly immigrants. The BBC's Paul Welsh in Abidjan says there are now claims of two other mass graves of government forces killed during the 11 weeks of fighting. One of them is said to be in the rebel headquarters in Bouake which used to be government military barracks. Call-up "We are calling for the mobilisation because with the increase in the number of fronts, we also need to increase the size of the security and defence forces," Ivory Coast Defence Minister Bertin Kadet told reporters. "Ivorians are showing the desire to go to the front and they should be satisfied," he said. "The people of Ivory Coast will apply all the resources at their disposal to struggle on the side of President Laurent Gbagbo and his government to put an end to these aggressors and liberate our country," Mr Kadet said. The news conference came after the leader of Monoko-Zohi's Burkina Faso community, Ibrahima Ouedraogo, said the 120 men in his village had been killed by Ivory Coast soldiers. French soldiers found the grave following fierce fighting between government soldiers and rebel groups. The government denies any responsibility, saying the rebels are to blame - the village is in rebel-held territory. "Our forces are not in the habit of burying their dead in common graves," Mr Kadet said. Ivory Coast used to be West Africa's richest country but 11 weeks after an army mutiny, some diplomats fear that it could descend into the anarchy and massive blood-letting of civil wars in neighbouring Liberia and Sierra Leone. The conflict could also draw in several neighbouring countries, which have many thousands of citizens in Ivory Coast or which are accused of backing one or other sides. Weeks of talks mediated by West African diplomats have failed to find a political solution to the crisis, which escalated last week when two new rebel groups emerged in the west of the country. Massacre The mass grave was found in territory held by the rebel Ivory Coast Patriotic Movement (MPCI) 70km (40 miles) north-west of the key cocoa-trading town of Daloa, which is now in loyalist hands. Mr Ouedraogo said Ivorian army troops arrived in the village, travelling in six trucks with Ivorian military markings. The victims had been killed by "men in uniform," who were "aided by some villagers". The rebels are recruiting young Ivorians He said soldiers had accused merchants of feeding the rebels before going from house to house rounding up and killing men, at times working from a list of names. The bodies were found protruding from a mound which was 30 metres wide and two metres high, said a spokesman for the French forces in Ivory Coast, Lieutenant Colonel Ange-Antoine Leccia. The MPCI dominates the largely Muslim north of the country, while troops loyal to President Laurent Gbagbo retain control of the mainly Christian south.

Troops' bloody mutiny Key stories Africa's cycle of coups Who are the rebels? Suburb razed Misery in Bouake The peacemaker In pictures Escape from Bouake Migrants flee Analysis Q&A: Why the fighting? Burkinabes in firing line Economy threatened West Africa at stake The French connection Media crackdown Three years of turmoil TALKING POINT Can peace ever return to Ivory Coast? See also: 30 Nov 02 | Africa Foreigners flee rebel-held Ivory Coast 29 Nov 02 | Africa Thousands trapped by Ivorian fighting 27 Nov 02 | Africa Ivorian opposition leader flees Abidjan 26 Nov 02 | Africa Ivorian ministers quit over crisis 25 Nov 02 | Africa Ghana denies backing Ivory Coast 21 Nov 02 | Africa Appeal over Ivorian crisis Internet links: BBC Focus on Africa Ivory Coast Republic MPCI UNHCR BBC Network Africa The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites Top Africa stories now: Ivory Coast youth called to arms Zenawi blames Somalis for Kenya attacks Ethiopia launches food appeal Miss Turkey wins Miss World Nigerian police novices disarmed Fugitive ready for return to US Kenyan police find Mombasa missiles Chissano son denies ordering murder Links to more Africa stories are at the foot of the page.

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