Tag Archives: leader

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UN Warns Ivorian President’s supporters against attack on leader

The United Nations issues warning against the supporters of Ivory Coast president for attacking Alassane Ouattara. However, it is likely to ignite a civil war in the country among the supporters of Gbagbo and Ouattara.

Martin Nesirky, spokesperson of the United Nations stated that the UN chief Ban Ki-moon was “deeply alarmed” by the aggressive statements given by the supporters of Gbagbo against Ouattara.

The UN secretary general said that this attack on Ouattara’s hotel where he was staying, could provoke violence and called for immediate action to prevent such incidences, reveled the UN spokesperson.

UN had been authorized to verify the Nov 28 poll results under a peace agreement made after the civil war 2002-03. Ouattara was declared a winner by the international community but Gbagbo declared himself as winner referring to the Ivory Coast constitutional council’s decision. However, the council was headed by Gbagbo himself and he nullified the decision of one million voters to declare himself as a winner. The United Sates and other superpowers of the world have pressurized Gbagbo to resign and let Ouattara take the position of president however, Gbagbo remains aloof to all the pressure put over him. Gbagbo has already ruled in Ivory Coast much beyond the time given to an elected president to rule Ivory Coast as Gbagbo delayed the elections. .

Human rights groups have threatened president’s supporters for abducting political leaders who have been opposing Gbagbo. There have been reports of mass killing by Gbagbo supporters.

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Democrats finally agree to go with Obama’s tax plan

Democrats were deeply divided over Obama tax plan

The US president got a relief when Democrats have moved toward approving his deal to extend George Bush’s tax cuts for the richer section.

Obama’s chances of getting 60 votes required to pass his Tax relief plan were quite bleak as Democrats were quite apprehensive and feared that he might compromise too much with Republicans, the opposition party members. Obama asked the ex-president Bill Clinton to persuade Democrats to approve the deal.

Following the Democrats’ approval the bill would go to other house of the Senate in the House of Representatives. Obama is likely to win in the other House.

The Republicans won in the November 2 congressional elections taking control over the House of Representatives.

The proposed bill includes a package of $856 billion and extends unemployment benefits and tax breaks for lower income groups. The bill if passed will also revoke many subsidies for businessmen and renewable energy sector.

The deal retains all tax relief schemes for richer Americans passed under the Republican government under George Bush which would otherwise expire by January 1.

However, the Democrats wanted to raise tax rates for rich Americans by 2% to lower the already high deficit of the United States.

They were resentful for Obama’s readiness to retain Republicans’ tax cuts and agreed to support the bill only after former president Bill Clinton’s persuasion.

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US likely to impose sanctions on Ivory Coast over poll verdict

Ivory Coast President Laurent Gbagbo in the center

Abidjan, Ivory Coast – Following the UN allegation over controversial presidential  election in Ivory Coast, the US government has issued a warning against former president  Laurent Gbagbo regarding wrongdoings to the electoral process and showing disrespect for the verdict. The United States has asked the ex-president to leave the presidential office at the earliest as the UN claims that the election was won by Gbagbo’s opponent.

Meanwhile, the African Union has shown deep concerns over the recent developments in the Ivory Coast politics and decided to suspend the country from the union’s membership. Gbagbo did not accept his defeat in the presidential election and rejected the electoral commission’s verdict, which showed that the opposition party leader Alassane Ouattara won the election by a considerable margin of votes.

Ivory Coast has been in news since the verdict came last week. The world community has shown its disapproval over Gbagbo’s unconstitutional act and asked him to immediately step down as a president. Gbagbo has been ignoring the world community’s voice since last week and even did not take call from Barack Obama. US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton came openly to talk on the Ivory Coast’s issue and said that the US government has asked Gbagbo to transfer power to his opponent in a constitutional manner otherwise he would be facing a dire consequences.

Gbagbo, who spent many years as an expatriate in France, may face a travel ban as the international community including the European Union and the United Nations have also condemned the act.