Deaths reported in Ivory Coast protests

ABIDJAN, Ivory Coast, Dec. 16 (UPI) -- A rights group says at least nine unarmed protesters were killed Thursday in Abidjan, Ivory Coast, during protests following the presidential elections.

The demonstrators, protesting in support of Alassane Ouattara, were fired upon by security forces, Amnesty International reported in a release.

"Amnesty International is appalled by this completely unjustified and disproportionate use of force and calls on the Ivorian security forces to stop these killings immediately," Salvatore Sagues, Amnesty International's West Africa researcher, said.

Quattara's supporters were marching on the state television station in central Abidjan with the intent of taking control of the facility. The station was being guarded by troops loyal to incumbent President Lauren Gbagbo, CNN reported.

United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has urged protesters in the contested Ivory Coast presidential election to avoid violence.

Ouattara defeated Gbagbo in the election and the U.N. has asked Gbagbo to honor the will of the people and concede his position.

"The secretary-general is reminding those who incite or perpetrate violence, and those who use the media for that purpose, that they'll be held accountable for their actions," said Martin Nesirky, the secretary-general's spokesman.

Qouttara and his Prime Minister Guillaume Soro have been confined to the Hotel Golf since the impasse over election results two weeks ago. U.N. troops were guarding the hotel, along with fighters from the New Forces, Soro's former rebel group.

The electoral commission declared Ouattara the winner of the election by 54 percent to 46 percent, but Gbago refused to concede defeat.