Murder sparks riots in Abidjan

Glenn McKenzie in Abidjan
Monday February 3, 2003
The Guardian

Protesters fought paramilitary police in Ivory Coast's capital yesterday, throwing stones and burning tyres after the killing of a well-known opposition figure.

The unrest opened a second week of violent protests that have paralysed Abidjan, one of west Africa's economic hubs.

Paramilitary police fired into the air and lobbed tear gas grenades to disperse hundreds of rioters in the working class neighbourhoods of Abobo and Adjame. Police helicopters whirred overhead as officers clubbed protesters and loaded some into police vans.

Protesters accused government agents of killing Ash Karamoko Kamara, a comedian and supporter of the opposition Rally of the Republicans.

Relatives of Kamara said he was seized at home on Saturday night by uniformed men who said they were taking him to the headquarters of the spy agency for interrogation. His bullet-riddled body was found on a street next morning.

In recent months government agents have been accused of arresting suspected opposition figures, many of whom were not seen again.

Protests and riots have been a near-daily occurrence in Abidjan since the January 24 signing of a peace accord between the government and rebel negotiators in Paris.
AP

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