The United Nations peacekeeping force in Côte d'Ivoire reported today that one of its helicopters was shot at by forces loyal to the country's President and denounced the killing of a dozen civilians in the commercial capital, Abidjan, by another armed group.
"Elements of the Forces Républicaines de Côte d'Ivoire (FRCI) fired at the helicopter, but failed to hit it," said the mission, known as UNOCI, strongly condemning yesterday's attack against the helicopter, which it said could be considered a war crime. The FRCI support Alassane Ouattara, who won the UN-certified and internationally recognized presidential elections last November.
The attack took place while the helicopter was on a reconnaissance flight above the western Ivorian town of Duékoué, the scene of fierce fighting in recent days between the FRCI and forces loyal to Laurent Gbagbo, the former president who refuses to cede power despite losing to Mr. Ouattara at the polls.
In another violent incident yesterday, the mission said pro-Gbagbo forces shot at innocent civilians in the Abidjan suburb of Williamsville, killing about a dozen people.
A group of pro-Gbagbo youths also put a tyre around a young man and burned him alive in the Riviera area of Abidjan, while another gang savagely attacked two UNOCI staff members.
"UNOCI condemns this wave of atrocities against civilians and warns that these acts will not go unpunished," the mission said in a statement.
"With the increase in human rights violations and barbaric practices, there are grounds for wondering whether President Gbagbo is still in charge of his forces and supporters. UNOCI believes it is imperative to end this spiral of violence by finding a definitive solution to the political impasse which stemmed from the post-electoral crisis," it added.
UNOCI urged authorities concerned to do everything in their power to identify those responsible for yesterday's firing at its helicopter so that they can be held accountable for their action.