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Cote d'Ivoire's ruling party condemns attack on PM |
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07:55, July 03, 2007 |
Cote d'Ivoire's ruling Ivorian Popular Front (FPI) Monday condemned "without any reservation and with all its energy" the attack, which occurred Friday, against the plane carrying the country's Prime Minister Guillaume Soro.
"The FPI condemns without any reservation and with all its energy the assassination attempt which was orchestrated and planned meticulously by the enemies of peace and those who are blood thirsty," a statement obtained by Xinhua from the party said.
The plane carrying the prime minister came under fire from rockets and small arms Friday morning as it prepared to land at Bouake, stronghold of the former rebel group New Forces (FN).
The prime minister, who was scheduled to preside over the ceremony for appointing magistrates in readiness for public meetings which are aimed at launching the voter registration process, came from the attack unscathed but four members of his delegation perished while another 10 sustained injuries.
According to the party, the aim of the "appalling act" was "without a doubt to derail the implementation of the Ouagadougou peace agreement and hamper the re-establishment of peace in the country."
The ruling party "reaffirms its trust" in the prime minister, " assures him of its total support" and calls on him to work with President Laurent Gbagbo on the efforts underway in the search for lasting peace in Cote d'Ivoire.
Speaking Sunday for the first time on the attack, which has been roundly condemned around the world, Soro called for an international inquest into the circumstances surrounding the attack while at the same time expressing his determination to continue with the peace process.
"A lot has been said on the matter, personally I've chosen to maintain my serenity rather than join in the debate. I'm only asking for one thing, that the truth about the matter be established, that we know what happened, who did it and why," the prime minister said.
"We are a duty bound to continue. The search of peace is like fighting a war and we are ready to continue leading the war in search of peace," the prime minister said
The prime minister, whose former rebel movement controls the North of the country since a botched coup attempt in September 2002, concluded a peace agreement on March 4, 2007 in Ouagadougou, capital of Burkina Faso, with president Gbagbo, in a bid to reunite the country and pave way for elections which are aimed at re-establishing lasting peace in the country.
Source: Xinhua
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