President orders new investigations into political violence

President Laurent Gbagbo has ordered Cote d'Ivoire's justice ministry to open new inquiries into political violence which marred elections in 2000 and led to the deaths of over 300 people.

Gbagbo told the ministry on Tuesday to "take urgent measures" to start inquiries into the deaths and killings that occurred from October 2000 to January 2001 including the Yopougon massacre, the pro-state Fraternite-Matin reported on Thursday. He also instructed the ministry to expedite the trial of the January 2001 alleged coup plotters, the daily said.

Violence broke out in October 2000 when then military junta leader, General Robert Guei, proclaimed himself president following just-ended elections. Gbagbo, then in the opposition, called a protest by his supporters and violence ensued. Guei fled and further violence broke out between Gbagbo supporters and followers of opposition leader, Alassane Ouattara, who were demanding a re-run of the elections.

A mass grave was discovered on 27 October in the northern Abidjan suburb of Yopougon containing 57 bodies reportedly killed by gendarmes.

Political violence again erupted in December 2000 after the Constitutional Court barred Ouattara, who had been sidelined from the presidential elections, from running in parliamentary elections. Troops clashed with civilians in Abidjan and other towns, leaving dozens dead on both sides.

On 8 January 2001 armed men attacked the national television station, Gbagbo's home, and the country's largest gendarmerie camp. The government later announced it had defeated a coup for which 31 people are to go on trial on 13 May.