theatlantic:

Ivory Coast Leader Under Siege

Following a presidential election last November, Ivory Coast’s incumbent leader, Laurent Gbagbo, refused to step down despite his apparent loss at the polls. Challenger Alassane Outtara was declared the winner and recognized as such internationally. Since then supporters loyal to both figures have been involved in sporadic, often violent, clashes. Backed by the United Nations and French government troops, forces loyal to Outtara have made significant gains, and over the past several days have reportedly cornered Gbagbo in a bunker at his residence in the country’s economic capital, Abidjan. Earlier today, talks were underway between Gbagbo and representatives of the French government concerning Gbagbo’s exit from power, but with these talks reportedly having failed, the situation remains fluid and dangerous. Gathered here are images from the recent conflict in Ivory Coast. More photos will be posted here as events unfold over the course of the day. 

See more photos at In Focus

[Image: AP/Rebecca Blackwell]

(Source: The Atlantic)

newsflick:

Ivory Coast: Gbagbo’s last stand in Abidjan’s presidential palace

Fighters loyal to Alassane Ouattara have surrounded the presidential palace in Ivory Coast with the help of UN and French helicopters, as incumbent president Laurent Gbagbo’s grip on power appeared increasingly tenuous.

Ouattara’s forces have described the assault on the main city of Abidjan as the final offensive to oust Gbagbo, whose refusal to acknowledge his rival as the legitimate winner of last year’s presidential election, prompted a violent conflict.

Sustained machine-gun and heavy weapons fire rang out from the direction of the palace before dawn, in the heaviest fighting since Ouattara’s forces entered the city five days ago.

Troops surrounding Gbagbo’s home are waiting for him to step down, an adviser to Ouattara told Associated Press

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(Source: newsflick, via theatlantic)

pantslessprogressive:

Happy Friday! Here is a news roundup for Libya, Ivory Coast, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Yemen and other countries for Friday, March 4.

[Previously: Mar. 2]

Libya - The People:

• Libyan forces attack western town, rebel push in east | Reuters
• Anti-Gaddafi rebels…

(Source: pantslessprogressive)

socialisimo:

A French colony since 1893, Ivory Coast became independent in 1960. Rich in cocoa and coffee, the country enjoyed economic and political stability under its first president, Félix Houphouët-Boigny, who remained allied to the west while many other African countries flirted with Marxism or experienced violent changes of power. He was always careful to calm tensions between the country’s more than 60 ethnic groups. It also has a sharp religious divide, with a Christian south and a Muslim north.

He died in 1993, and his successor, Henri Konan Bédié, was less focused on avoiding tensions. Unlike Houphouët-Boigny, who welcomed in millions of immigrants from neighbouring countries, Bédié stressed the concept of “Ivority”. This was mainly to hurt his rival, Alassane Ouattara, whose father was from Burkina Faso.

In 1999, disgruntled soldiers under General Robert Guéï toppled Bédié in a coup. After a year of military rule, Guéï and Laurent Gbabgo, below, contested an election, with Ouattara again excluded from the ballot over nationality claims, much to the anger of his supporters in the north.

pantslessprogressive:

A Syrian woman reacts as she sits next to her son who was seriously wounded during a violence between security forces and armed groups in Latakia, northwest of Damascus, Syria, on March 27. [Photo: Hussein Malla/AP]

Bahrain, Ivory Coast, Jordan, Syria, Tunisia, Yemen News Roundup: March 28.

Bahrain:

Bahrain opposition says 250 detained, 44 missing | Reuters

Bahrain shuns Kuwait’s mediation offer | AJE

World ignoring Bahrain struggle | Toronto Star

Ivory Coast:

Battle Erupts For Key Ivory Coast Town | VOA

Ivory Coast Refinery Running Out of Crude, May Shut in April | BusinessWeek

EU weighs new sanctions on Ivory Coast’s Gbagbo | Reuters

Britain announces emergency aid for Ivory Coast refugees | Guardian

The Urgent Situation in Cote d’Ivoire | David Paltiel, Yale School of Medicine

Jordan:

Jordan PM defends freedom of speech after unrest | AFP

Jordan: Set Independent Inquiry in Attacks on Protesters | HRW

Syria:

Syrian protesters come under fire from security forces | Guardian

Syrian president wavers between crackdown or compromise as southern protests continues | AP

Assad to replace emergency law with worse: dissident | Reuters

What is at stake if Syria’s regime falls | CS Monitor

A bloody mess | The Economist

As Obama talks Libya, neocons move on to Syria | MinnPost

Pawlenty: Obama administration ‘naive’ on Syria | CNN

Pawlenty blasts Clinton on Assad: ‘ignorant or frighteningly misguided’ | POLITICO

Opinion Brief: Should the U.S. intervene in Syria? | The Week

Argument: The Syrian Time Bomb | Foreign Policy

Peter Goodspeed: Syrian violence raises the stakes on Arab upheaval | National Post

Reader writes the problems of Syria are larger than any individual | CNN

Tunisia:

Tunisia’s interim president sacks interior minister without explanation, report says | AP

The Casbah Coalition | The New Yorker News Desk

Yemen:

Blast at Yemen explosives factory kills 110 | AP

Yemen fighting worsening already dire humanitarian situation, warns UN official | UN News Centre

Activists urge UN rights council to meet on Yemen | Reuters

The Unfolding Situation in Yemen | Steven Heydemann, United States Institute of Peace

(Source: pantslessprogressive, via soupsoup)