will remain impartial and no UNOCI armed elements would be leaving the premises of the Golf Hotel with the marchers. This assurance was given to President Gbagbo's camp on no less than three occasions, in the evening … those pre-planned untruthful cases to ask for the departure of UNOCI and Licorne. The clashes between the RHDP marchers and the military forces of President Gbagbo's camp on 16 December and their aftermath resulted in numerous casualties
Côte d'Ivoire / United Nations Operation in Côte d'Ivoire / Introductory remarks to the press conference
Côte d'Ivoire / UNOCI will continue to work to serve Ivoirians, special representative Y.J. CHOI stresses
impartiality concerning the marches. UNOCI will remain impartial and no armed UNOCI element will leave Golf Hotel with the marchers, Mr. Choi reiterated. However, despite my assurances, President Gbagbo's camp suddenly started a negative press campaign against UNOCI