U.N.: Ivory Coast leaders incite violence

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YAMOUSSOUKRO, Ivory Coast, Dec. 30 (UPI) -- U.N. officials Thursday said Ivory Coast leaders perpetrating violence after the November presidential run-off will be held accountable.

Tensions, hatred between communities, and violence followed in the wake of the election after incumbent President Laurent Gbagbo refused to concede to challenger Alassan Ouattara, the United Nations reported.

The United Nations said Ouattara has been recognized as the president-elect by the international community.

Francis Deng, the special adviser to the secretary-general on the Prevention of Genocide, and Edward Luck, the special adviser charged with guiding protection, said unconfirmed reports continue of serious human rights violations by Gbagbo's supporters and forces he controls, in addition to the use of speech inciting violence and hatred.

The United Nations said its investigators were prevented for a second time from looking into allegations of a mass grave in the village of N'Dotre near Abidjan.

The team saw a building in which 60 to 80 bodies were found, said Simon Munzu, the head of the U.N. human rights division in the Ivory Coast, adding, "We continue to protest the denial of access."

At least six deaths, three disappearances, 20 kidnappings and 11 arrests and injuries were reported this week, said Munzu.