ABIDJAN, Ivory Coast – Mobs and security forces allied to Ivory Coast leader
Laurent Gbagbo attacked at least six U.N. vehicles Thursday, setting some ablaze and injuring two people in the latest round of violence sparked by this West African nation's disputed election.
U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon strongly condemned the attacks by loyalists of Gbagbo, who the U.N. says lost the Nov. 28 poll to longtime opposition leader
Alassane Ouattara.
Ban said the attacks by "regular and irregular forces" constituted crimes under international law, and warned that those responsible would be held accountable. Other officials with the global body sounded an alarm, warning they were being prevented from protecting civilians.
Gbagbo has refused to accept the outcome of the November poll and has ordered the U.N.'s 9,000-strong peacekeeping mission to leave. The U.N. has refused, and its troops have increasingly come under attack, including earlier this week when gunmen wounded three peacekeepers after their car crashed, said spokesman Kenneth Blackman.
In the violence Thursday, Ban said one military vehicle belonging to the
U.N. peacekeeping mission was burned, and a doctor and driver of an ambulance targeted in one attack were injured.
Heavy rain has led to massive mudslides hitting several towns, resulting in thousands being made homeless.
