French Army Reports Mass Grave in Rebellion-Racked Ivory Coast
French troops have discovered a mass grave in rebel-held territory in central Ivory Coast, a French army spokesman said Friday.
The grave -- 30 yards by 2 yards -- was found Thursday afternoon northwest of the town of Daloa, French Lt. Col. Ange-Antoine Leccia said.
“We do not know how many bodies are there, who killed these people or when,” he said. “It is not our mission to exhume the bodies, and we are simply reporting what we have found.”
The site is near the scene of clashes recently between rebels and loyalist forces. Government helicopter gunships have strafed villages in the area.
A spokesman for President Laurent Gbagbo said he had few details about the grave but blamed the rebels.
“The president has been informed, and he is profoundly shocked by this macabre discovery,” Toussaint Alain said. “This can only be a crime committed by the rebellion.”
France has sent a 1,000-strong force to its former colony to protect foreigners.
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