More die in Cote d'Ivoire violence

At least five police officers killed in renewed clashes amid standoff over disputed presidential election. Last Modified: 12 Jan 2011 12:53 GMT

The post-election violence has resulted in about 200 deaths and thousands have fled the country [AFP] At least five police officers have been killed in Abidjan in renewed clashes between security forces loyal to Cote d'Ivoire leader Laurent Gbagbo and supporters of his rival, Alassane Ouattara, witnesses have said. "Clearly, what's happening is that supporters of Ouattara are...angry that the political deadlock continues," Al Jazeera's Yvonne Ndege, reporting from Abidjan, said on Wednesday. The West African nation has been in upheaval since a disputed presidential election nearly two months ago. Ouattara is internationally-recognised as having won the vote, but incumbent president Gbagbo is refusing to concede. The latest violence occurred in the Outtara neighbourhood of Abobo. Clashes in the city on Tuesday killed five people, including three security force members. The UN says more than 200 people have been killed as a result of post-election violence and more than 20,000 have fledto neighbouring Liberia. "...The hope is that the more violence there is in Abidjan, the more that will spur or speed up what seem to be floundering diplomatic efforts [to resolve the conflict]," our correspondent said. Raila Odinga, the Kenyan prime minister, and Olusegun Obasanjo, the ex-Nigerian president, have visited Cote d'Ivoire to help negotiate a settlement, but could only get Gbagbo to agree to let Ouattara have the vice-presidency, which Outtara has rejected. Odinga plans to revisit the country this weekend in another attempt to solve the situation, Ndege said.

Source: Al Jazeera and agencies