The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS} on Wednesday condemned any intended acts of violence on any member of the Community in Cote d’Ivoire, a statement said here.
It said ECOWAS attention was drawn to media a statement attributed to Mr Afi N'guessan, President of the Popular Front of Cote d'Ivoire (FPI), threatening the lives of citizens of ECOWAS Member States resident in Cote d'Ivoire.
ECOWAS said the “statements are completely inconsistent with ECOWAS principles of free movement and the well-known traditional hospitality of the Ivorian people. “ECOWAS finds Mr N'guessan statements irresponsible, inflammatory and totally unacceptable.”
It said: “The statements are an affront to the entire ECOWAS Region and show complete disrespect to the Heads of State and Government of ECOWAS, especially as they were made just before their scheduled Summit meeting on Cote d'Ivoire on October 6, 2006.”
ECOWAS said it was “determined to work with the international community to end a creeping culture of impunity that has undermined its efforts to establish the rule of law, accountability and the enthronement of democracy in West Africa.
It reminded Mr N'guessan of his personal responsibility should there be any act of violence against ECOWAS citizens as a result of those threats.
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