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Reply To: | AAM (African Association of Madison) |
Date: | Fri, 24 Dec 1999 15:46:09 EST |
Content-Type: | text/plain |
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The president of Ivory Coast, Henri Konan Bedie, has called for popular
resistance against rebel soldiers who say they have overthrown him.
Speaking on French radio from a hideout in the main city, Abidjan, Mr. Bedie
urged people to defeat what he called a grotesque and backward attempt at a
military coup.
A former army general, Robert Guei, earlier announced that the president had
been ousted because he refused unconditionally to release political
prisoners, a factor which has led to heightened political tension in Ivory
Coast. The rebels have since freed several key opposition leaders from jail.
Trouble began yesterday, when troops mutinied over pay.
With mutineers in control of the international airport and national media,
the incident rapidly developed into an attempted coup.
By share coincidence, we in Madison will turn out tonight to celebrate
Christmas Eve with the Ivorians in Madison. For better or worse, let's
celebrate ... what the heck?
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