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Human Rights Group Protests Detention of Former Ivorian President’s Supporters

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Kim Lewis

Last updated on: June 21, 2011 8:00 PM

International human rights group Amnesty International has expressed outrage over the detention of at least 50 supporters of former president Laurent Gbagbo, including several high-profile Ivorian politicians.

The group says at least 21 people, including the former prime minister and former minister of foreign affairs, are being held at the Pergola Hotel in Abidjan.

A number of others, including the former president, his wife and the former president of the political party the Ivorian Popular Front are being held in the north of the country.

Salvatore Sagues is Amnesty International’s researcher for Ivory Coast. He spoke from Paris about the situation of the detainees whom he says are being held with no formal charges placed against them.

To hear his interview with VOA’s Kim Lewis, click on the link below.

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