[backstop]

Kofi Annan declares Iraq war illegal ?????
TV BBC2 Newsnight has just reported breaking news that : "Kofi Annan has declared that the war in Iraq is illegal and that elections cannot beheld there while the unrest continues."
I hope I've got the words right but am not certain. Has anyone got anything definite on this story ?

[Guest]

Don't know, but here's a link about some interpretations of a speech he made:

http://www.cincypost.com/2004/09/10/dyer091004.html

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('', 'A')nd this is what the Ghanaian-born diplomat said at the U.N.'s General Assembly meeting last September, just six months after the United States, Britain and Australia invaded Iraq:

"Until now it has been understood that when states decide to use force to deal with broader threats to international peace and security, they need the unique legitimacy provided by the United Nations. Now, some say this understanding is no longer tenable, since an armed attack with weapons of mass destruction could be launched at any time, without warning, or by a clandestine group. Rather than wait for this to happen, they argue, states have the obligation to use force preemptively, even on the territory of other states.

"This logic represents a fundamental challenge to the principles on which world peace and stability have rested for the last 58 years.''

Many people saw Kofi Annan as an American pawn when he was elected secretary-general, and he certainly was the U.S. choice for the job, but what he was actually saying in that speech, in thinly disguised diplomatic code, was that the new U.S. doctrine of preemptive war against potentially threatening groups and countries is illegal and a danger to world peace

[backstop]

The above report is fully confirmed by an interview with K.A. that has just gone out on BBC News 24 at 1.05 am today 16th Sept.

I don't know how to get a copy or a transcript of the interview, but if anyone else can then please post. It's an historic document just as an inditement of the Bush regime, let alone for the development of Iraqi democracy.

Backstop

[trespam]

Iraq war illegal, says Annan
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/3661134.stm

[jato]

While this is interesting, I don't think it will mean much. Everyone I know thinks the UN is a joke (myself included).

[backstop]

Jato - maybe you need to broaden your circle of acquaintance ?

In practical terms the UN is the one forum offering an alternative to the present diktat of the least scrupulous. Imperfect, underpowered, much abused, can only do what its member govt.s allow it to do, and so on. Amongst myriad other achievements in the past, it is the entity that will eliminate polio in the coming years.

In the USA I understand that it has consistently been slagged by the commercial media for decades now, with God knows what misinformation being circulated (black helicopters over Alabama, world domination plans, etc).

In my view, rather like President Carter, anything that gets that bad a press in the corporate media deserves a careful look. From my own travels and working contacts I know the UN is viewed as central to future global wellbeing both by govt.s and peoples other than the USA.

For example, in two years travelling (on a research project) in South & Central America, I always dressed carefully for avoiding time-wasting at borders, with a very old well-cut bush jacket, a clean shirt and a tie with the UN logo. Only once out of a score or more of border crossings was I not waved through: I didn't have the tie on. The customs man opened my case, saw the tie (logo up) on a white shirt, nodded, closed the case and waved me on.

So I guess I know quite a lot of people who don't think the UN is a joke.

So, with no offense intended, maybe you need to broaden your circle of acquaintance ?

regards,

Backstop

[trespam]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('backstop', 'J')ato - maybe you need to broaden your circle of acquaintance ?

[Guest]

You know, this is a bit off the point, but if one does a Google news search, there seems to be a definite pattern to the headlines regarding this statement.

Outside of the U.S. the headlines mostly say simply:

"Iraq War Illegal, says Annan" or "UN Chief Says Iraq War Illegal"

inside the US, the headlines are twisted into:

"UN Chief Says Iraq War, With No Security Council Approval, Illegal"

to help make Americans think: "We can declare war whenever we want, who cares what the blue helmets think!"

HArd to believe?, I'll post a dangerously long list of headlines to suggest otherwise:
$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('', '
')UN chief Annan says Iraq war was illegal
Hindustan Times, India - 39 minutes ago

Kofi Annan: Iraq war 'illegal'
News24 (subscription), South Africa - 1 hour ago

War on Iraq was illegal, says Annan
Telegraph.co.uk, UK - 4 hours ago

Annan questions legality of Iraq war and elections
New Zealand Herald, New Zealand - 5 hours ago

Annan Questions Legality of Iraq War and Elections
ABC News, United States - 5 hours ago

Iraq war illegal: Annan
Sun Network, India - 1 hour ago

Annan questions legality of Iraq war and elections
Deepika, India - 2 hours ago

UN chief says Iraq war illegal
People's Daily Online, China - 3 hours ago

UN chief says US-led Iraq war, with no Security Council approval ...
WTNH, CT - 4 hours ago

Iraq war was illegal, claims Annan
ic Berkshire.co.uk, UK - 1 hour ago

Iraq war illegal, says Annan
Rediff, India - 1 hour ago

PM rejects UN illegal invasion claim
The Age, Australia - 2 hours ago

PM's defiance on 'illegal' war
NEWS.com.au, Australia - 2 hours ago

Iraq Invasion Was Illegal, Contravened UN Charter, Annan Says
Bloomberg - 2 hours ago

Kofi Annan: Globally Popular Mainstay of the UN
Scotland on Sunday, UK - 3 hours ago

Iraq invasion entirely 'valid', Howard says
ABC Online, Australia - 4 hours ago

Australian PM refutes Annan claims Iraq war 'illegal'
Channel News Asia, Singapore - 3 hours ago

UN chief says US-led Iraq war, with no Security Council approval ...
Boston Globe, MA - 4 hours ago

Iraq war was illegal and breached UN charter, says Annan
Guardian, UK - 5 hours ago

UN chief says Iraq war illegal
Xinhua, China - 5 hours ago

Annan: Iraq invasion was 'illegal'
Al-Jazeera, Qatar - 5 hours ago

UN chief Kofi Annan says Iraq war 'illegal'
Channel News Asia, Singapore - 7 hours ago

Annan Questions Legality of Iraq War and Elections
Reuters - 6 hours ago

UN's Annan puts pressure on Bush by saying war in Iraq illegal
The Scotsman, UK - 6 hours ago

Iraq war illegal, says Annan
BBC News, UK - 7 hours ago

Annan says Iraq war illegal
ABC Online, Australia - 7 hours ago

Iraq War Illegal Says Kofi Annan
Scotland on Sunday, UK - 7 hours ago

Kofi Annan says Iraq war 'illegal'
Channel News Asia, Singapore - 7 hours ago

Iraq war was illegal says Annan
Mail & Guardian Online (subscription), South Africa - 55 minutes ago

Australia's PM rejects UN claims the war in Iraq was illegal
Radio Australia, Australia - 2 hours ago

IRAQ INVASION ILLEGAL SAYS ANNAN
Special Broadcasting Service, Australia - 2 hours ago

UN chief Kofi Annan says Iraq war 'illegal'
GEO, World - 2 hours ago

Iraq war illegal, says Annan
Sydney Indymedia, Australia - 4 hours ago

UN chief says US-led Iraq war, with no Security Council approval ...
KESQ, CA - 4 hours ago

War in Iraq was illegal, says UN chief Kofi Annan
The Herald, United Kingdom - 5 hours ago

UN chief says Iraq war 'illegal'
Philippine Daily Inquirer, Philippines - 6 hours ago

UN chief says Iraq war was illegal
Reuters, UK - 1 hour ago

Iraq war was illegal, claims Annan
ic Coventry, UK - 1 hour ago

Iraq war was illegal, claims Annan
ic Newcastle.co.uk, UK - 1 hour ago

Iraq war was illegal, claims Annan
ic Harrow.co.uk, UK - 1 hour ago

Iraq war illegal, says Annan
Rediff, India - 1 hour ago

Iraq war illegal: Annan
Sun Network, India - 1 hour ago

Annan: Iraq war decision 'illegal'
Washington Times, DC - 1 hour ago

Australia's PM rejects UN claims the war in Iraq was illegal
Radio Australia, Australia - 2 hours ago

Iraq Invasion Was Illegal, Contravened UN Charter, Annan Says
Bloomberg - 2 hours ago

PM rejects UN illegal invasion claim
The Age, Australia - 2 hours ago

IRAQ INVASION ILLEGAL SAYS ANNAN
Special Broadcasting Service, Australia - 2 hours ago

Annan questions legality of Iraq war and elections
Deepika, India - 2 hours ago

Iraq war was illegal, claims Annan
Ananova, UK - 2 hours ago

UN chief calls US-led Iraq war 'illegal'
USA Today - 2 hours ago

Iraq war illegal, says UN chief
Today (Singapore), Singapore - 2 hours ago

UN chief Kofi Annan says Iraq war 'illegal'
GEO, World - 2 hours ago

PM rejects UN criticism
Brisbane Courier Mail, Australia - 3 hours ago

UN Chief Calls War Without Security Council Approval 'Illegal'
KFOXtv.com, TX - 3 hours ago

US-led Iraq war without UN approval was "illegal”: Annan
Khaleej Times, United Arab Emirates - 3 hours ago

UN Chief Calls War Without Security Council Approval 'Illegal'
NewsNet5.com, OH - 3 hours ago

UN Chief Calls War Without Security Council Approval 'Illegal'
TheDenverChannel.com, CO - 3 hours ago

UN Chief Calls War Without Security Council Approval 'Illegal'
Channel Cincinnati.com, OH - 3 hours ago

UN Chief Calls War Without Security Council Approval 'Illegal'
Omaha Channel.com, NE - 3 hours ago

UN Chief Calls War Without Security Council Approval 'Illegal'
WJACtv.com, PA - 3 hours ago

UN Chief Calls War Without Security Council Approval 'Illegal'
WISC, WI - 3 hours ago

UN Chief Calls War Without Security Council Approval 'Illegal'
FoxReno.com, NV - 3 hours ago

UN Chief Calls War Without Security Council Approval 'Illegal'
WGAL Channel.com, PA - 3 hours ago

UN Chief Calls War Without Security Council Approval 'Illegal'
Kansas City Channel.com, MO - 3 hours ago

UN Chief Calls War Without Security Council Approval 'Illegal'
WPXI.com, PA - 3 hours ago

UN Chief Calls War Without Security Council Approval 'Illegal'
Bakersfield Channel.com, CA - 3 hours ago

UN Chief Calls War Without Security Council Approval 'Illegal'
Click10.com, FL - 3 hours ago

UN Chief Calls War Without Security Council Approval 'Illegal'
WXii 12.com, NC - 3 hours ago

UN Chief Calls War Without Security Council Approval 'Illegal'
News4Jax.com, FL - 3 hours ago

UN Chief Calls War Without Security Council Approval 'Illegal'
KIROtv.com, WA - 3 hours ago

Annan says US invasion of Iraq 'illegal'
The Age, Australia - 3 hours ago

UN Chief Calls War Without Security Council Approval 'Illegal'
Louisville Channel.com, KY - 3 hours ago

UN Chief Calls War Without Security Council Approval 'Illegal'
WSOCtv.com, NC - 3 hours ago

UN Chief Calls War Without Security Council Approval 'Illegal'
WDIV, MI - 3 hours ago

UN Chief Calls War Without Security Council Approval 'Illegal'
KTVU.com, CA - 3 hours ago

UN Chief Calls War Without Security Council Approval 'Illegal'
Milwaukee Channel.com, WI - 3 hours ago

UN Chief Calls War Without Security Council Approval 'Illegal'
WESH.com, FL - 3 hours ago

UN Chief Calls War Without Security Council Approval 'Illegal'
New Orleans Channel.com, LA - 3 hours ago

UN Chief Calls War Without Security Council Approval 'Illegal'
WHIOtv.com, Ohio - 3 hours ago

UN Chief Calls War Without Security Council Approval 'Illegal'
ClickonSA.com, TX - 3 hours ago

UN Chief Calls War Without Security Council Approval 'Illegal'
WRAL.com, NC - 3 hours ago

UN Chief Calls War Without Security Council Approval 'Illegal'
KSBW Channel.com, CA - 3 hours ago

UN Chief Calls War Without Security Council Approval 'Illegal'
SanDiego Channel.com, CA - 3 hours ago

UN Chief Calls War Without Security Council Approval 'Illegal'
WPBF Channel.com, FL - 3 hours ago

UN Chief Calls War Without Security Council Approval 'Illegal'
INDYchannel.com, IN - 3 hours ago

UN Chief Calls War Without Security Council Approval 'Illegal'
Carolina Channel.com, SC - 3 hours ago

UN Chief Calls War Without Security Council Approval 'Illegal'
WMUR Channel.com, NH - 3 hours ago

UN Chief Calls War Without Security Council Approval 'Illegal'
WSBtv.com, GA - 3 hours ago

UN Chief Calls War Without Security Council Approval 'Illegal'
WSBtv.com, GA - 3 hours ago

UN Chief Calls War Without Security Council Approval 'Illegal'
Click 2 Houston.com, TX - 3 hours ago

UN Chief Calls War Without Security Council Approval 'Illegal'
Iowa Channel.com, IA - 3 hours ago

UN Chief Calls War Without Security Council Approval 'Illegal'
WTOV9.com, OH - 3 hours ago

UN Chief Calls War Without Security Council Approval 'Illegal'
WFtv.com, FL - 3 hours ago

UN Chief Calls War Without Security Council Approval 'Illegal'
Channel Oklahoma.com, OK - 3 hours ago

UN Chief Calls War Without Security Council Approval 'Illegal'
Pittsburgh Channel.com, PA - 3 hours ago

UN Chief Calls War Without Security Council Approval 'Illegal'
HomeTown channel.com, AR - 3 hours ago

UN Chief Calls War Without Security Council Approval 'Illegal'
Hawaii Channel.com, HI - 3 hours ago

UN Chief Calls War Without Security Council Approval 'Illegal'
KCRA-TV, CA - 3 hours ago

UN Chief Calls War Without Security Council Approval 'Illegal'
Jackson Channel.com, MS - 3 hours ago

UN Chief Calls War Without Security Council Approval 'Illegal'
The New Mexico Channel.com, NM - 3 hours ago

UN Chief Calls War Without Security Council Approval 'Illegal'
Champlain Channel.com, NY - 3 hours ago

Iraq war illegal: Annan
NDTV.com, India - 3 hours ago

UN Chief Calls War Without Security Council Approval 'Illegal'
WBAL Channel.com, MD - 3 hours ago

UN chief says Iraq war illegal
People's Daily Online, China - 3 hours ago

UN chief says US-led Iraq war, with no Security Council approval ...
San Diego Union Tribune, CA - 4 hours ago

Iraq invasion entirely 'valid', Howard says
ABC Online, Australia - 4 hours ago

Annan says US-led Iraq war, with no Security Council approval, was ...
CBC News, Canada - 4 hours ago

Annan says US-led Iraq war, with no Security Council approval, was ...
Winnipeg Sun, Canada - 4 hours ago

Annan says US-led Iraq war, with no Security Council approval, was ...
CJAD, Canada - 4 hours ago

UN chief says US-led Iraq war, with no Security Council approval ...
KFOR-TV, OK - 4 hours ago

UN chief says US-led Iraq war, with no Security Council approval ...
WTVO, IL - 4 hours ago

UN chief says US-led Iraq war, with no Security Council approval ...
KPLC-TV, LA - 4 hours ago

Annan questions legality of Iraq war and elections
China Daily, China - 4 hours ago

UN chief says US-led Iraq war, with no Security Council approval ...
WSTM-TV, NY - 4 hours ago

UN chief says US-led Iraq war, with no Security Council approval ...
WANE, IN - 4 hours ago

UN chief says US-led Iraq war, with no Security Council approval ...
WTNH, CT - 4 hours ago

UN chief says US-led Iraq war, with no Security Council approval ...
KVIA, TX - 4 hours ago

Annan: US-led Iraq war was 'illegal'
WCNC (subscription), NC - 4 hours ago

UN chief says Iraq war was 'illegal'
KING5.com (subscription), WA - 4 hours ago

Oregon and SW Washington
kgw.com (subscription), OR - 4 hours ago

UN chief says US-led Iraq war, with no Security Council approval ...
WAVY-TV, VA - 4 hours ago

Iraq war illegal, says Annan
Sydney Indymedia, Australia - 4 hours ago

UN chief says US-led Iraq war, with no Security Council approval ...
WHO-TV, IA - 4 hours ago

UN chief says US-led Iraq war, with no Security Council approval ...
KASA, United States - 4 hours ago

UN chief says US-led Iraq war, with no Security Council approval ...
KESQ, CA - 4 hours ago

UN chief says Iraq war was illegal
Reuters, UK - 4 hours ago

War on Iraq was illegal, says Annan
Telegraph.co.uk, UK - 4 hours ago

UN chief says US-led Iraq war, with no Security Council approval ...
Boston Globe, MA - 4 hours ago

War in Iraq was illegal, says UN chief Kofi Annan
The Herald, United Kingdom - 5 hours ago

UN chief says Iraq war illegal
Xinhua, China - 5 hours ago

Iraq war was illegal and breached UN charter, says Annan
Guardian, UK - 5 hours ago

Annan Questions Legality of Iraq War and Elections
ABC News, United States - 5 hours ago

Annan questions legality of Iraq war and elections
New Zealand Herald, New Zealand - 5 hours ago

Annan says Iraq war 'illegal'
The Australian, Australia - 5 hours ago

Annan: Iraq invasion was 'illegal'
Al-Jazeera, Qatar - 5 hours ago

UN chief says Iraq war 'illegal'
Philippine Daily Inquirer, Philippines - 6 hours ago

Annan Questions Legality of Iraq War and Elections
Reuters - 6 hours ago

UN's Annan says Iraq war 'illegal'
Australian Financial Review (subscription), Australia - 6 hours ago

UN's Annan puts pressure on Bush by saying war in Iraq illegal
The Scotsman, UK - 6 hours ago

Annan says Iraq war 'illegal'
Brisbane Courier Mail, Australia - 7 hours ago

UN chief Kofi Annan says Iraq war 'illegal'
Channel News Asia, Singapore - 7 hours ago

Annan says Iraq war 'illegal'
NEWS.com.au, Australia - 7 hours ago

Annan says Iraq war 'illegal'
Melbourne Herald Sun, Australia - 7 hours ago

Annan says Iraq war 'illegal'
Advertiser, Australia - 7 hours ago

Annan says Iraq war 'illegal'
Daily Telegraph, Australia - 7 hours ago

US invasion of Iraq illegal, says Annan
Sydney Morning Herald (subscription), Australia - 7 hours ago

Annan says Iraq war illegal
ABC Online, Australia - 7 hours ago

Annan says Iraq war illegal
ABC Online, Australia - 7 hours ago

Iraq war illegal, says Annan
BBC News, UK - 7 hours ago

Kofi Annan says Iraq war 'illegal'
Channel News Asia, Singapore - 7 hours ago

Iraq War Illegal Says Kofi Annan
Scotland on Sunday, UK - 7 hours ago

[jato]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('', 'T')he "UN is a joke meme" is one that has spread quite broadly in the US. It seems to primarily infect Republicans and Libertarians.

[Falconoffury]

I didn't know that many news networks were using the exact, to the letter, headline. It just goes to show you how tight and far-reaching the USA news is secretly controlled.

[JackBob]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('backstop', 'T')V BBC2 Newsnight has just reported breaking news that :

"Kofi Annan has declared that the war in Iraq is illegal and that elections cannot beheld there while the unrest continues."

Backstop

[Licho]

Well why are you surprised? I lived under impression that this war was illegal all the time.. Even if it wasn't stated so clearly until now..
Not only illegal, but official reasons were constructed from nothing, really dirty war.

[backstop]

Jackbob - Is this guilt by denunciation that your talking about or guilt by association ?

Or both ?

In whose interests are these alledged accusations ?

Ask yourself, are you being used ? And if so by whom ?

Backstop

[Keith_McClary]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Anonymous', 'Y')ou know, this is a bit off the point, but if one does a Google news search, there seems to be a definite pattern to the headlines regarding this statement.

Outside of the U.S. the headlines mostly say simply:
....
inside the US, the headlines are twisted into:
....

[Keith_McClary]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('jato', 'W')hile this is interesting, I don't think it will mean much. Everyone I know thinks the UN is a joke (myself included).

[Leanan]

Richard Perle agrees that the war was illegal! You know, the Pentagon hawk, one of the neoconservative architects of the Iraqi war.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/Iraq/Story/0, ... 58,00.html

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('', 'I')n a startling break with the official White House and Downing Street lines, Mr Perle told an audience in London: "I think in this case international law stood in the way of doing the right thing."

[backstop]

Leanan - Kofi Annan, as secretary general representing the whole playground, just stood up to the school bully. Such attitudes are catching . . .

regards,

Backstop

[Chocky]

Whenever the UN is mentioned I can't help but think of Srebrenica. It seems to me one of the main problems with the UN is they confuse what should happen with what actually does happen. Ideally, the Serbs would have respected the UN safe haven, in reality they invaded it and killed 8,000 who were supposedly under the protection of the UN.

[Specop_007]

Good Lord. Not to say Iraq is right or wrong either way, but put it in perspective.
The UN wanted to handle Iraq. But look at the Ivory Coast! They cant even handle a small rebellion in the Ivory Coast!! Good God, could you ask for a eaiser bush fire to handle?!
Again, not saying the Iraq situation is right or wrong, but after seeing this I'm DAMNED GLAD the UN isnt handling Iraq.

On a side note, anyone think Bush will stand up and ask France if they need America's help to handle this small, insigniigant uprising?

Article

France, U.N. Launch Ivory Coast Evacuation

29 minutes ago

By PAULINE BAX, Associated Press Writer

ABIDJAN, Ivory Coast - France and the United Nations (news - web sites) on Wednesday began evacuating thousands of French and other expatriates trapped at homes, U.N. offices and a French military base during days of anti-French rampages in the West African nation.

Photo
AP Photo

Reuters Photo
Reuters
French Troops Fire Into Ivory Coast Crowd

As state television aired fiery calls to mobilize against the French, French troops combed Ivory Coast's largest city to rescue foreigners for evacuation, sending boats to pluck some French off the banks of Abidjan's lagoons.

"The government is pushing to kill white people — not just the French, all white people," said Marie Noel Mion, rescued by French troops in a wooden boat at daybreak Wednesday and waiting with hundreds of others at Abidjan's airport for the first flight out.

In Paris, France's Cabinet approved a decree requisitioning commercial aircraft to carry out French citizens in what was shaping up as one of the largest evacuations from Africa since the independence era.

France alone expected to fly out between 4,000 to 8,000 of its citizens from across Ivory Coast, a French official said — potentially the majority of the 14,000 French still in the former French colony.

"It is on a voluntary basis. We are not going to evacuate all our French citizens because they are too many," the official said, speaking on condition of anonymity.

Violence erupted in Ivory Coast, the world's top cocoa producer and regional economic powerhouse, on Saturday after government warplanes killed nine French peacekeepers and an American aid worker in an airstrike on the rebel-held north.

France wiped out the nation's newly built-up airforce on the tarmac in retaliation, sparking a violent uprising against the French, including looting, burning and attacks by loyalist youths. The turmoil has claimed at least 27 lives and wounded more than 900.

Ivory Coast has been divided between rebel north and loyalist south since civil war broke out in September 2002. France and the United Nations have more than 10,000 peacekeepers in the country, trying to maintain a 2003 cease-fire broken Thursday by the government airstrikes on rebel territory.

President Laurent Gbagbo's government, blamed by the French for the airstrike, has failed to rein in the thousands-strong crowds of loyalists, prompting a demand from French President Jacques Chirac for more action.

"The Ivorian authorities should assume their responsibilities regarding public order," Chirac said in Paris.

Evacuations began Wednesday with state television airing what the United Nations has described as hate messages.

State media showed the bodies, one with its head blown off, of some of seven people reported killed in a clash at a French evacuation center on Tuesday.

France says the seven were killed when demonstrators opened fire on the French and Ivory Coast security forces returned fire; demonstrators claim it was French troops who opened fire.

"The French are assassinating our children," one man cried Wednesday on state TV. "Let us all mobilize."

"All those who saw the pictures of our compatriots killed yesterday ... please go back and continue the resistance,' another urged.

Aid workers, businesspeople and longtime residents of the former French colony huddled at U.N. agencies on Wednesday, many of them rescued from their homes by French troops amid looting and burning.

"The people here have lost everything, their houses, the companies, everything," one of them, a Belgian businessman, told the AP.

Hundreds of expatriates were camped at Abidjan's airport, some in tents set up in the floor of the terminal.

U.N. convoys shuttled foreigners to the airports, passing through "very virulent" crowds of loyalist youths and passing burned vehicles and roadblocks of burned tires, U.N. spokesman Philippe Moreux said.

"It's a very hostile crowd," Moreux said. "They're chanting slogans and insults, things like, 'All the whites out,' 'Everybody catch a white.'"

The U.S. Embassy and others sent convoys through the city, picking up Americans, Canadians, Spaniards and others for the airport.

Evacuees included some U.N. employees and others among 1,000 expatriates holed up at U.N. headquarters.

More than 1,600 other foreigners who have taken refuge in a French military base in Abidjan are to be flown out. They included 985 French and citizens of 42 other countries, the French said.

Heavily armed French forces with three armored vehicles manned a roadblock on the way to Ivory Coast's international airport, taken by the French military on Saturday.

The airport was reopening on Wednesday for what were expected to be days of evacuation flights.

Three Boeings with space for 250 people each would run what shuttles to Paris and to Dakar, Senegal, French officials said.

At least three other countries, Spain, Belgium and Italy, were sending military planes to be on standby in the region if needed to evacuate their nationals.

As the evacuations began, South African President Thabo Mbeki invited representatives of Ivory Coast's warring sides to peace talks there meant to end the violence.

No date has been set, but the meeting is expected "soon," spokesman Bheki Khumalo said.

Mbeki was sent to Ivory Coast, which gained independence in 1960, on Tuesday by the 54-nation African Union.

[smiley]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('', 'G')ood Lord. Not to say Iraq is right or wrong either way, but put it in perspective.
The UN wanted to handle Iraq. But look at the Ivory Coast! They cant even handle a small rebellion in the Ivory Coast!! Good God, could you ask for a eaiser bush fire to handle?!
Again, not saying the Iraq situation is right or wrong, but after seeing this I'm DAMNED GLAD the UN isnt handling Iraq.