Atta Mills must insure that Ghanaian citizens stay out of Cote d'Ivoire's crisis.
2011-02-02 10:59
Bouake - Five suspected mercenaries - four Ghanaians and one Togolese - for Ivory Coast's strongman Laurent Gbagbo were released here on Tuesday by ex-rebels loyal to Gbagbo's presidential rival.
An AFP reporter witnessed a ceremony in Bouake where the New Forces ex-rebels allied with Alassane Ouattara, the internationally recognised winner of the November presidential poll, turned over the five to an envoy of the Ghanaian ambassador in the presence of UN officials.
The five had been arrested late last year and their release was ordered by Guillaume Soro, the New Forces chief who is also Ouattara's prime minister, according to a New Forces official.
In late December, James Agyenim-Boateng, Ghana's deputy information minister, protested the arrest of "so-called Ghanaian mercenaries" whom he said were in fact bricklayers and artisans.
The New Forces movement that has controlled northern Ivory Coast since 2002 then said the suspected mercenaries were believed to have collected intelligence on its troops and weaponry.
The African Union has directed a panel of five African heads of state to find a binding solution to the power struggle between Gbagbo and and Ouattara.
Post-electoral violence has claimed 271 lives since mid-December, according the United Nations.
An AFP reporter witnessed a ceremony in Bouake where the New Forces ex-rebels allied with Alassane Ouattara, the internationally recognised winner of the November presidential poll, turned over the five to an envoy of the Ghanaian ambassador in the presence of UN officials.
The five had been arrested late last year and their release was ordered by Guillaume Soro, the New Forces chief who is also Ouattara's prime minister, according to a New Forces official.
In late December, James Agyenim-Boateng, Ghana's deputy information minister, protested the arrest of "so-called Ghanaian mercenaries" whom he said were in fact bricklayers and artisans.
The New Forces movement that has controlled northern Ivory Coast since 2002 then said the suspected mercenaries were believed to have collected intelligence on its troops and weaponry.
The African Union has directed a panel of five African heads of state to find a binding solution to the power struggle between Gbagbo and and Ouattara.
Post-electoral violence has claimed 271 lives since mid-December, according the United Nations.
- AFP
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