UN Secretary-General on Monday underlined "the need to ensure that there is no retaliation" against supporters of Laurent Gbagbo, the incumbent Cote d'Ivoire leader who was seized by forces loyal to his rival Alassane Ouattara.
Ouattara is the internationally recognized winner in the November 2010 presidential runoff elections.
A statement, issued here Monday night by Ban's spokesman, said that the secretary-general made the remarks as he was speaking on the phone
with Ouattara on the current situation in the West African country.
Ban "underlined to President Ouattara the expectation that with Mr.
Gbagbo's now in the hands of the president's forces any further bloodshed will be avoided," the statement said. "He stressed in particular the need to ensure that there is no retaliation against Mr. Gbagbo's supporters."
The current crisis in Cote d'Ivoire began when Gbagbo refused to step down as president after a November 2010 presidential run-off elections in the country. Ouattara was the UN-certified winner of the elections, but Gbagbo's forces have prevented his government from taking over,
leading to violent clashes.
"In this regard the secretary-general welcomed President Ouatara's call for the immediate establishment of a Truth and Reconciliation
Committee," the statement said. "As the secretary-general has stated on numerous occasions, those responsible for human rights abuses, regardless of their affiliation, must be held accountable."
"He called on all parties to take advantage of this historic opportunity and do their utmost to foster national reconciliation; establish a national unity government, ensure accountability for the serious human rights violations committed during the post-elections conflict; reunify the security forces; disarm the numerous irregular
forces that participated in the conflict; re-establish State authority throughout the country and complete the unfinished aspects of the
peace process," the statement said.
"The secretary-general calls on all parties to work together to put an end to this tragic chapter, which could have been avoided had Mr.
Gbagbo respected the will of the people at a far earlier stage," the statement said.
"The UN Mission will continue to provide the necessary support to the Ivorian government in re-establishing law and order to avert the risk
of a security vacuum," the statement said. "The Mission will continue to execute its mandate to protect civilians and stands ready to support the efforts to address the critical humanitarian situation in the country and the forthcoming domestic and international investigations into human rights violations."
"The secretary-general has been closely monitoring the situation in Cote d'Ivoire," the statement said. "Mr. Gbagbo remains currently in
the custody of President Ouattara's government, which remains responsible for Mr. Gbagbo's physical safety."
"At the request of Mr. Gbagbo and in line with its mandate, the United Nations Operation in Cote d'Ivoire (UNOCI) will provide security and
protection while he is in custody," the statement said.