Suspected mercenaries released from I Coast

  1. Posted on Wednesday 2 February 2011 - 12:00
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    John A. Afful, AfricaNews reporter in Takoradi, Ghana
    Four Ghanaians and a Togolese suspected militia men arrested in Ivory Coast by of Mr Alassane Ouattara for allegedly spying for Mr Laurent Gbagbo have been released unconditionally.
    ghana
    The four Ghanaians are Johnson Agbeko, Atsu Agbeko, Kobina Agbeko, Avaana and Abdula.

    The New Forces chief Guillaume Soro, who is also Ouattara's prime minister, according to a New Forces official ordered the release of the five and turned over the five to an envoy of the Ghanaian ambassador in the presence of UN officials in Bouake.

    Ghana's deputy information minister, James Agyenim-Boateng has ealier protested the arrest of "so-called Ghanaian mercenaries" whom he said were in fact bricklayers and artisans.

    The New Forces movement that has controlled northern Ivory Coast since 2002 then said the suspected mercenaries were believed to have collected intelligence on its troops and weaponry.

    African Union has directed a panel of five African heads of state to find a binding solution the political standoff in Ivory Coast between the two which includes Mauritanian President Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz as head, Presidents of Burkina Faso, Chad, South Africa and Tanzania.

    The high-level panel faces an uphill battle, as it has limited options to offer the two rival leaders since head of UN peacekeeping Alain Le Roy has ruled out any power-sharing deal between Gbagbo and Ouattara with AU chief Jean Ping’s clearing his stance and help to Alassane Ouattara to exercise power through a negotiated political deal.

    According to Ping, the AU reconfirmed Ouattara as the recognised leader.

    "Our statement is clear. It says that we recognize Alassane Ouattara as president of last November's election. We never said we wanted the votes to be recounted-- our position is clear," said Ping.

    "Some people say there should be a recount. Fine, that's their opinion. But we will stand by our decision," he added.

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