Government to inquire into human rights abuses

The government of Cote d'Ivoire is to launch an inquiry into human rights abuses in the country, ratify the treaty on the creation of the international court of justice and improve border security, Prime Minister Seydou Elimane Diarra told parliament on Wednesday. During a six-hour meeting with the Ivorian parliament for the first time, Diarra outlined a new governance programme that highlighted peace, security and human rights. He fielded questions on a wide range of issues during a presentation that was carried live on national TV and radio. The inquiry into human rights abuses, Diarra said, was to bring to justice those responsible for violations in the war-torn West African country since fighting between government and rebel fighters erupted on 19 September. The UN Security Council, he added, would be asked to provide an international team in the months ahead to help the inquiry. To strengthen border security, Diarra said the government would appeal to financial assitance from the EU/ACP to strengthen the borders with Burkina Faso, Ghana and Mali. In the meantime, he said, commercial trucks and others cross-border traffic would be escorted by military personnel. The Cote d'Ivoire-Mali border re-opened last week after an eight-month closure due to the Ivorian conflict. While the border with its eastern neighbour Ghana remained open, the border with Burkina Faso was closed as relations between the two countries deteriorated when Ivorian authorities accused Burkina Faso of supporting rebels against the Abidjan government. However top security officials of the two countries met on Wednesday in the Burkinabe capital, Ouagadougou, to pave way for the re-opening of the common boder. Numerous parliamentarians expressed concern about a proposed law that would grant citizenship to some foreigners. Peace and security topped the list of questions that Diarra, who once served as prime minister during military rule in the 2000 military regime, was asked. The representative of Diarra's northern region of Odienne, Ben Soumahoro, said it would be "a rush" to organise presidential elections in 2005 when all necessary conditions were not met. In 2000 when the coutry experienced its first military coup led by late Gen. Robert Guei, he said, the nation hurried to organise elections which were subsequently denounced as unfair. He urged the Diarra government to plan diligently on the issue of elections. Simone Gbagbo, the wife of President Laurent Gbagbo and member of the ruling party, urged Diarra's government to work quickly towards restoring the authority of the state throughout the country.