World
        

America

US, UN review efforts to force down Gbagbo

Updated: 2011-04-08 13:29

(Xinhua)

Twitter Facebook Myspace Yahoo! Linkedin Mixx

WASHINGTON - US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon on Thursday reviewed international efforts to compel Cote d'Ivoire's incumbent President Laurent Gbagbo to step aside immediately.

Related readings:
US, UN review efforts to force down Gbagbo Heavy arms fire pounds Gbagbo's home, French deny role in attacks
US, UN review efforts to force down Gbagbo Pro-Ouattara forces attack Gbagbo's residence
US, UN review efforts to force down Gbagbo Cote d'Ivoire's Gbagbo proposes truce from UN mission
US, UN review efforts to force down Gbagbo Envoy says Gbagbo negotiating surrender

In their meeting at the US State Department earlier the day, Clinton and Ban condemned the "unacceptable attacks" on UN peacekeepers in the West African state, department spokesman Mark Toner said in a statement.

The helicopters of United Nations Operation in Cote d'Ivoire and French troops are joining the attacks on Gbagbo's strongholds in the commercial capital of Abidjan by forces loyal to his rival Alassane Ouattara. Gbagbo has refused to cede power despite Ouattara's wide recognition as the winner in the Nov 28 presidential runoff.

Clinton and Ban also highlighted the need for the international community to "respond generously" to the increasing humanitarian needs in Cote d'Ivoire, Toner said.

He said that on the issue of UN reform, Clinton welcomed Ban's efforts to instill budget discipline and encouraged him to be "mindful of the need to seek efficiencies, to continue to emphasize a culture of transparency, and to further modernize the way they conduct their business."

Some Republican lawmakers are pressing for withholding of US payments to UN to force changes at the world body, but US ambassador Susan Rice told Congress that such a move would undermine US interests.

Ban also told top members of Senate Foreign Relations Committee that UN is doing what it can to reduce its budget and at the same time, "we need to have robust financial support from the United States."

As the single largest contributor, the United States contributes to 22 percent of UN's regular budget and 27 percent for its peacekeeping operations.

E-paper

Green light

F1 sponsors expect lucrative returns from Shanghai pit stop

Buying into the romance
Born to fly
Light of hope

European Edition

Specials

Share your China stories!

Foreign readers are invited to share your China stories.

No more Mr. Bad Guy

Italian actor plans to smash ‘foreign devil’ myth and become the first white kungfu star made in China.

Art auctions

China accounted for 33% of global fine art sales.

Beloved polar bear died
Panic buying of salt
'Super moon'