Bro. Habib,

Your concern about further lives being lost in the current crisis is not
only real but justified given the outcome of today's meeting between Gbagbo
and Ouattara at the private residence of the former. Despite the two
embrassing before and after their brief meeting and Ouattara's reference to
"President Gbagbo" (inplying recognision), the deep seated rivalry between
the two still remains. The fact that Ouattara's main priority, even after
meeting Gbagbo, is "to mourn the dead and to bury his dead supporters" and
not to join the new government says it all. In my view, to avert further
bloodshed, the fundamental issue of legitimacy must be addressed and one of
the options available
to Ivorian politicians is your suggestion i.e. for a
re-run of the presidential elections in line with the US, OAU, ECOWAS and
countries such as South Africa. To gloss over the difficult and sensitive
issue of legitimacy, in my view, would prove disastrous in the long run.
Little wonder Koffi Annan, after his Rwanda experience, is taking a clear
and unequivocal stance on this one.

Sidi Sanneh

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