Ghanaian Soldier Wounded In Ivorian Crisis

A member of the Ghanaian mission in the UNO Cote d `Ivoire (UNOCI) was last Saturday wounded in Abidjan by a" youth group “during an `attack` a UN vehicle which was subsequently set on fire and bet into ashes, said spokesman of the mission.

A five minutes video exclusively available to The Herald newspaper, with clubs, sticks and machetes mangling the vehicle a Toyota Prado, after which they set it ablaze. The name of the soldier is not given.

A "youth group" "attacked one of our vehicles. ‘said a spokesman Hamadoun Toure`"A colleague, Ghana, was injured and was transported to the hospital `s` ONUCI where he received first aid, "he said, adding that his life was not` No danger.

"We're checking to see the circumstances and consequences to such a deed, "he said. The wounded and one of his colleagues had come to shop in a supermarket in the neighborhood of Cocody-Deux Plateaux, he said. The vehicle bore the initials UN.

According to witnesses, the vehicle carrying two men `s UNOCI had entered the precincts of `supermarket, before parking in the basement, followed by young people, who keep a dam behind the supermarket.

"When the two men came out, young people were beaten with clubs. They pulled the vehicle out of the basement till the parking and set fire to the car, "he told AFP` s control.

"I have seen blood flowing from the head" of a member `s` UNOCI, Has he said. "The police then took the two men for protect, "he said.

Several witnesses identified the attackers as "young Patriots loyal to incumbent President Laurent Gbagbo.

Since the beginning of the crisis resulting from the presidency in November 2010, several members of the `ONUCI have been injured. Any attack against the staff of UNO is considered a war crime, punishable by international justice.

L `UNOCI has on several occasions in recent weeks criticized attacks by forces loyal to Laurent Gbagbo.

The Gbagbo government wants the departure of the mission and the French Licorne force that `s support, accusing them of supporting" rebels "allied to his rival Alassane Ouattara, President-elect acknowledged by the international community.

Last February, at least 10 soldiers loyal to Cote d’Ivoire’s disputed President Laurent Gbagbo have been killed by unidentified gunmen in Abidjan.

The army vehicles were attacked in an area aligned to his rival Alassane Ouattara, who is recognised by the UN as the winner of last year's polls.

On Monday, witnesses said soldiers shot at supporters of Mr Ouattara during demonstrations, killing at least six.

An African Union-backed panel is in the country to try to resolve the crisis.

It is the AU's latest attempt to mediate the situation in Cote d’Ivoire, which has endured since both Mr Gbagbo and Mr. Ouattara each declared victory in presidential elections in November

Four vehicles belonging to the security forces were ambushed in the Abobo neighbourhood on Tuesday. "All the occupants were killed," a security source told the AFP news agency.

A medical source said at least two injured troops were admitted to hospital, the report added.

Power-sharing

The clashes in Abobo were said to have continued for most of the day, witnesses said.

Meanwhile, the AU panel of four African presidents - from South Africa, Tanzania, Chad and Mauritania - met Mr Ouattara on Tuesday after travelling to Abidjan earlier this week.

"Your mission is for us a last-chance mission because seven others have come before you," Mr Ouattara told them, AFP reported.

The South African Government, whose President Jacob Zuma is a panel member, said their proposals focus on the creation of a power-sharing interim government until new elections can be held.

The panel met with Mr Gbagbo on Monday.

About 500 people, mainly pro-Ouattara supporters, have been killed since the election results were announced at the beginning of December, the UN says.

November's presidential vote was supposed to reunify the West African nation, which has been divided between north and south since a conflict in 2002.