/ 9 October 2000

MBEKI SLAMS IVORY COAST JUNTA

SOUTH African President Thabo Mbeki has attacked the ruling junta in Ivory Coast, saying the world cannot stand by and condone the “fruits of tyranny”. “It … cannot and will not be that, when armed soldiers rob the people of their freedom, the rest of us maintain a treacherous silence,” Mbeki said in an address to the Ghanaian parliament. “This would constitute an endorsement of the fruits of tyranny. This we will not do.” Ivory Coast’s military ruler General Robert Guei this week warned against foreign intervention in Ivorian politics, and rejected proposals by the Organisation of African Unity (OAU) to postpone presidential elections set for October 22 and establish an impartial transitional council. – AFP