Originally posted by the Voice of America.
Voice of America content is produced by the Voice of America,
a United States federal government-sponsored entity, and is in
the public domain.


African Union Tries to Settle Ivory Coast Crisis

   VOA News  February 20, 2011

   A  panel  of  five  African heads of state is meeting Sunday to try to
   resolve the political crisis in Ivory Coast.
   The  African  Union-appointed panel is expected to approve a report by
   mediators who have met with representatives of Ivory Coast's two rival
   presidents   -   incumbent  Laurent  Gbagbo  and  challenger  Alassane
   Ouattara.
   The AU named the panel to settle the political crisis that began after
   both  men  claimed  victory  in the November presidential election and
   formed their own governments.
   The  AU  says  any  decision  the panel makes will be legally binding.
   However, the AU has no obvious mechanism for enforcing the ruling, and
   the  Gbagbo  government has said it will only accept the AU's decision
   if it respects the Ivorian constitution.
   Ivory  Coast's  constitutional  council named Gbagbo the winner of the
   election, overturning results that showed Ouattara as the victor.
   The AU heads of state are meeting in Mauritania's capital, Nouakchott.
   They  include  the  leaders  of  Burkina Faso, Chad, Mauritania, South
   Africa, and Tanzania.
   The  United  Nations  says  post-election  violence in Ivory Coast has
   killed  nearly  300 people. Tens of thousands of refugees have fled to
   neighboring Liberia to escape the violence and uncertainty.
   Tensions  rose  further  last week as several international banks shut
   down their branches in Ivory Coast.
   The  banking  system  has  become  paralyzed  because of international
   efforts  to  financially  strangle  the  Gbagbo government. The crisis
   prompted  a  run  on  banks  as ordinary Ivorians tried to get hold of
   their cash.
   Gbagbo  retains  control  of  state  institutions, including the army.
   Ouattara has spent more than two months in an Abidjan hotel, protected
   by U.N. peacekeepers.

.