{"id":319916,"date":"2011-03-18T13:06:37","date_gmt":"2011-03-18T13:06:37","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.ghanamma.net\/2011\/03\/18\/ivory-coast-shelling-war-crime\/"},"modified":"2011-03-18T13:06:37","modified_gmt":"2011-03-18T13:06:37","slug":"ivory-coast-shelling-war-crime","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.ghanamma.com\/2011\/03\/18\/ivory-coast-shelling-war-crime\/","title":{"rendered":"Ivory Coast shelling ‘war crime’"},"content":{"rendered":"

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\n 18 March 2011<\/span>
\nLast updated at <\/span>09:06 ET<\/span>
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The shelling of an Abidjan market by Ivory Coast security forces which killed at least 25 people may be a crime against humanity, the UN says.<\/p>\n

Allies of disputed President Laurent Gbagbo have denied UN claims they fired the shells. <\/p>\n

They landed in the district of Abobo, which is under the control of militias who back his rival, Alassane Ouattara.<\/p>\n

Mr Gbagbo refuses to step down although Mr Ouattara is widely recognised as the winner of last year’s poll.<\/p>\n

A statement from the UN mission in Ivory Coast says that about 100 people were killed or maimed by at least six 81mm mortar shells.<\/p>\n

“Such an act, perpetrated against civilians, could constitute a crime against humanity,” it says.<\/p>\n

But Ahoua Don Mello, a spokesman for Mr Gbagbo’s government, told the AFP news agency that the accusations against the security forces were part of a “conspiracy” between the UN, Mr Ouattara’s supporters and former colonial power France to oust Mr Gbagbo.<\/p>\n

‘Strong signal’<\/span><\/p>\n

Pro-Gbagbo forces have been accused of firing at peaceful demonstrators on several occasions recently.<\/p>\n

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Ivory Coast: Battle for power<\/h2>\n

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