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UN experts fear I.Coast ‘crimes against humanity’

UN human rights experts said Friday they feared gross human rights violations being committed in Ivory Coast could amount to “crimes against humanity”.

Evidence from credible sources suggested “enforced or involuntary disappearances, arbitrary detentions and extrajudicial or arbitrary executions and sexual violence had occurred and may still be occurring” in Ivory Coast, they said in a statement.

“When committed in certain circumstances, enforced disappearances amount to a crime against humanity,” warned the UN’s Working Group on Enforced or Involuntary Disappearances. “Those who have perpetrated such horrendous acts shall be held accountable.”

Christof Heyns, Special Rapporteur on extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions called on all Ivorian parties “to prevent extrajudicial executions and take all necessary measures to protect the life of the population.”

Dozens of people have been killed in the former French colony where Laurent Gbagbo is refusing to hand over power to his rival Alassane Ouattara, who is internationally recognised as the winner of November’s presidential elections.