Uniting for the Sake of Ivory Coast

Ivorian President Alassane Ouattara and rival Henri Konan Bedie say they will continue discussions aimed at restoring peace following the Oct. 31 election that triggered clashes and left dozens dead. Ouattara described Wednesday’s initial meeting with former president and opposition candidate Henri Konan Bedie as an ice breaker, a first step toward establishing trust. Bedie said the two would continue to call each other in the coming days and weeks and meet so that the country returns to what it was. Following the meeting in the commercial capital, Abidjan, the two rivals did not say if any agreement was struck to continue working together. Bedie’s party and others in the political opposition are reportedly conditioning any movement on resolving the political conflict with the ruling party on authorities dropping criminal charges against opposition leaders for forming a rival government.

SOURCE: VOA