ABIDJAN, Ivory Coast, May 27 (UPI) -- More than 1,000 people were killed during the height of the political violence that followed Ivorian elections in November, a U.N. peacekeeping mission said.
The international community recognized Alassane Ouattara as the winner of a November election meant to unite an Ivory Coast divided by civil war. Incumbent President Laurent Gbagbo refused to step down and the subsequent violence pushed the country back to the brink of civil war.
The U.N. peacekeeping mission in Ivory Coast found 1,012 people were killed in the post election violence. The report covered a period from December 2010 to April 2011 when Gbagbo was apprehended with the help of French forces.
The report indicates "violations were committed" in clashes pitting forces loyal to Ouattara against Gbagbo loyalists, militias and mercenaries. Some civilians were also blamed for the violence in the West African country.
Ouattara was sworn in as president May 21. He called on the international courts to conduct an investigation into the post-election violence.
An 80-page report by Amnesty International published Thursday, however, accuses both sides of grave atrocities during the height of the unrest.
