SC/8665
17 March 2006

Security Council Committee Requests Explanation from Ivorian Authorities

NEW YORK, 16 March (UN Headquarters) -- On 14 March 2006, members of the Security Council Committee established pursuant to resolution 1572 (2004) heard a briefing by Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs, Jan Egeland, on his recent visit to Côte d'Ivoire.  They expressed deep concern at the situation in the western part of the country and at the incitement to hatred and violence in the local media, and decided to monitor closely the situation in this regard.

The Committee also discussed the recent incidents that occurred from 26 to 28 February between the National Armed Forces of Côte d'Ivoire (FANCI) and Licorne forces around the village of Bouéneu, resulting in obstacles to the freedom of movement of the impartial forces, contrary to paragraph 4 of Security Council resolution 1643 (2005).  The members of the Committee decided to request detailed explanations thereof from the Ivorian authorities.

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