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.


Ouattara Offers Gbagbo 'Last Chance' in Ivory Coast

   Scott Stearns | Dakar  March 16, 2011

   The  United  Nations-certified  winner  of  Ivory Coast's presidential
   election  says  he is giving the incumbent president one "last chance"
   to   give   up  power  and  resolve  the  country's  political  crisis
   peacefully.    Fighting   in  Ivory  Coast's  commercial  capital  is
   spreading.
   Former  Prime Minister Alassane Ouattara says he is offering incumbent
   President  Laurent  Gbagbo  a  truth  and reconciliation commission, a
   national  unity  government  and  combined  armed forces, in a move to
   avoid a return to civil war in Ivory Coast.
   The  offer  follows  recommendations  by the African Union, which last
   week   certified   Ouattara  as  the  rightful  winner  of  November's
   presidential  election.  Ouattara  made  the  offer during a televised
   address,  broadcast from the Abidjan hotel where he is guarded by U.N.
   peacekeepers.
   Ouattara says he would like to tell President Gbagbo that, in the best
   interests of the nation, it is time to abide by the will of the voters
   of  Ivory  Coast  and  appeals  from  civil  society groups, religious
   leaders,  West African leaders, the European Union, the United States,
   and  the  United Nations.  Ouattara says Gbagbo must understand that,
   for himself and his associates, this is the last chance for a peaceful
   and   honorable  exit.   Ouattara  says  this  is  Gbagbo's  personal
   responsibility.
   Gbagbo  is  refusing  to yield power because he says he was re-elected
   when  a  constitutional  council  of his allies annulled as fraudulent
   nearly 10 percent of all ballots cast.
   Weeks  of  renewed fighting in the commercial capital, Abidjan, is now
   spreading    from    pro-Ouattara    neighborhoods    to    pro-Gbagbo
   neighborhoods.   There  is  also  fighting  near the Liberian border,
   between  rebels  who back Ouattara and government troops who are still
   loyal to Gbagbo.
   In  his  address, Ouattara pledged to reconcile the daughters and sons
   of Ivory Coast.
   In keeping with the African Union decision, Ouattara says he will form
   a  government  of  national  unity  and reconciliation commission that
   brings  together  the most competent people from civil society and all
   parties, including Gbagbo's, for the country's recovery.
   Ouattara  says  it is imperative that Ivorians learn again how to live
   together  in  peace.   In  this  spirit,  he  says  he will encourage
   dialogue  among  all  political  leaders  to maintain an atmosphere of
   confidence and peace and make reforms to consolidate democracy.
   Ouattara  says  reconciliation  in  Ivory Coast must be accompanied by
   forgiveness  and  mutual  respect.  But in order to properly honor the
   memory  of  those  killed  in this political violence and ensure their
   families'  compensation, he says a truth and reconciliation commission
   will be put in place as quickly as possible.
   The  United  Nations  says post-electoral violence has killed at least
   365  people.   Human  Rights  Watch  says  a  three-month campaign of
   organized  violence  by  soldiers  and  militia  loyal  to  Gbagbo may
   constitute war crimes.

.