Ban Ki-moon says UN not party to Ivory Coast conflict

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Ban Ki-moon says UN not party to Ivory Coast conflict

By REUTERS

04/04/2011 23:54

UNITED NATIONS - Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said on Monday the United Nations

was not a party to the conflict in Ivory Coast despite having opened fire on one

of incumbent leader t Gbagbo's military bases.

Two UN attack helicopters fired missiles at a pro-Gbagbo military camp in the

main city Abidjan in what the world body said was an effort to protect civilians

against heavy weapons. The attack came as fighters backing presidential claimant

Alassane Ouattara poured into Abidjan to try to depose Gbagbo.

The United Nations and African organizations say Ouattara defeated Gbagbo in a

presidential election last November but Gbagbo says he won and has refused to

cede power.

In a statement, Ban said he had instructed the UN peacekeeping mission in Ivory

Coast " to take the necessary measures to prevent the use of heavy weapons

against the civilian population, " with the support of French forces.