UNOCI vehicle burned in Abidjan

A mob attacked a United Nations convoy in Youpougan, a working class district of Ivory Coast’s economic capital Abidjan on Tuesday. Our Observer sent us photos of a vehicle that was burned and overturned during the attack.

"A convoy of three vehicles of the UN operation in Ivory Coast (ONUCI) carrying 22 peacekeepers was attacked Tuesday. A large crowd encircled the convoy, wounding a soldier's arm with a machete and setting fire to one of the three vehicles," the UN said in a statement.

The UN mission added the situation had "returned to normal" thanks to intervention by the army chief of staff loyal to Laurent Gbagbo. Last week, ONUCI leader Choi Young-jin said troops loyal to Gbagbo were increasing "hostile acts" against the UN mission, which the incumbent President, under heavy preassure to step aside, has accused of supporting former rebels loyal to his rival Alassane Ouattara.

When I asked them what had happened, they told me: "We don't want any UNOCI vehicles in this neighbourhood."

Lookman (pseudonym) is one of our Observers in Ivory Coast.

These pictures were taken in the Niangon district of Yopougon, Abidjan. I was there at 2.30pm and by that time the vehicle was no longer burning. But it had been completely wrecked, and you could no longer make out the UN logo [a UN spokesman in Abidjan confirmed that a vehicle had been destroyed]. People were taking the car to bits and making off with what spare parts and useable bits of metal that they could. When I asked them what had happened, they told me: "We don't want any UNOCI vehicles in this neighbourhood." I've no idea what happened to the driver. 

All photos sent by our Observers.

Videos posted on YouTube by MrChampikilo.