2 of 2

The situation has not been helped by the discovery of a mass grave in Yopougon, part of greater Abidjan. The bodies of 57 victims, claimed to be Ouattara's supporters arrested by Guei's militia and executed, were discovered on October 28 dumped in a field.

Churches have joined together to pray for peace and to encourage dialogue between the factions. Church leaders had been active in trying to bring about agreement and understanding between the former military leader Guei and challenger Gbagbo. Also, the Bible Society printed more than 70,000 Scripture selections and distributed them at various political and public meetings.

"There is no doubt that Christians are being challenged by the recent events. Some have lost loved ones and friends or suffered injury. Sometimes it is hard to separate one's faith from one's politics, but many Christians are active in the community working for the good of everyone, whether Muslim, animist or Christian," Kouassi said.

Copyright © 2001 Compass Direct

For more on how Parliamentary disputes are threatening the Ivory Coast's unstable democracy and Gbagbo's presidency, read CNN, Reuters, or the Associated Press's latest stories.

Learn more about the Ivory Coast's political situation from the Organization of African Unity.

Read the Amnesty International 2000 country report, Ivory Coast, the U.S. Dept. of State, Human Rights Reports for 1999: Cote d'Ivoire., or the Library of Congress, Country Study, Ivory Coast.

first page |  2 of 2

share this page

January (Web-only) 2001, Vol. 45