Abidjan. .- At least six women were killed after the forces of Ivory Coast President Laurent Gbagbo, who clings to power despite losing the last election, opened fire on a group of protesters. Witnesses also spoke of more than 20 injured. Women protesters in the port city of Abidjan for the president-elect, Alassane Ouattara, Gbagbo who refuses to relinquish power.
"The women sang and had raised his hands to show they were not carrying weapons," he told a witness. The security forces "opened fire without warning and kept firing even when women were on the floor or tried to flee," he added. According to witnesses, the place did not get emergency vehicles.
Only a few people who had been hiding when they heard the shots came later to help the wounded. Thousands of people also fled the neighborhood of Abobo, considered the stronghold of the followers of Ouattara, to seek refuge in churches, among other places. Ivory Coast is experiencing a severe crisis since the presidential elections in late November.
The electoral commission declared the winner of the elections to Ouattara, but President of the Constitutional Court, a Gbagbo's party colleague, annulled the results and gave the victory to the president. Several international attempts at mediation failed later. The UN has warned of a new civil war due to the escalation of violence. 
"The women sang and had raised his hands to show they were not carrying weapons," he told a witness. The security forces "opened fire without warning and kept firing even when women were on the floor or tried to flee," he added. According to witnesses, the place did not get emergency vehicles.
Only a few people who had been hiding when they heard the shots came later to help the wounded. Thousands of people also fled the neighborhood of Abobo, considered the stronghold of the followers of Ouattara, to seek refuge in churches, among other places. Ivory Coast is experiencing a severe crisis since the presidential elections in late November.
The electoral commission declared the winner of the elections to Ouattara, but President of the Constitutional Court, a Gbagbo's party colleague, annulled the results and gave the victory to the president. Several international attempts at mediation failed later. The UN has warned of a new civil war due to the escalation of violence.
- Ivory Coast Homes Raided by Supporters of Laurent Gbagbo - BusinessWeek (05/03/2011)
- African leaders urge end to Ivory Coast killing (05/03/2011)
- Ivory Coast's Ouattara to attend AU meeting (05/03/2011)
- Women Protesters Shot Dead by Gbagbo's Soldiers in Ivory Coast (04/03/2011)
- Clinton blasts Ivorian leader for attack on women (04/03/2011)
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