LOC18:54
15:54 GMT
PARIS, Dec 7 (KUNA) -- French officials said here Tuesday that their
government supported "all initiatives" that would help end the political
stand-off in Ivory Coast, where two opposing president's are vying to take
power.
"France supports the people of the Ivory Coast, who have expressed their
wishes... in favour of Alasanne Ouattara," the French Foreign Ministry said.
Ouattara is deemed to have defeated incumbent president Laurent Gbagbo in
the November presidential election and both the United Nations and regional
African organizations, like the African Union, have backed Ouattara's election.
Foreign Ministry spokesman Bernard Valero pointed out that Ouattara has
received the support of the powerful West African organization "ECOWAS," which
is meeting at summit level early this week.
"The UN, ECOWAS and the African Union... have approved Ouattara," Valero
said, noting that France "did not support any particular candidate in the
elections."
The French official also said that to the best of his information, Ivory
Coast borders were now reopened, having been closed last week because of the
crisis. Valero also said he understood that foreign media broadcasts had again
resumed in the country. (end)
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KUNA 071854 Dec 10NNNN