22th day of hunger strike

Source: Reuters

Ivory Coast hunger strike prisoners receiving medical treatment ( UN )

Abidjan ( Ivory Coast ) - About 150 suspected supporters of Ivory Coast's former president Laurent Gbagbo are receiving medical treatment in prison after starting a hunger strike this month, an official from Gbagbo's political party and a UN document said.

More than 300 detainees at the main prison in the commercial capital Abidjan, many of whom have been held for more than two years, began their hunger strike on 1 December, calling for Ivorian authorities to either start their trials or free them on bail.

 Critics say President Ouattara has pursued a policy of "victor's justice", jailing opponents since the conflict while ignoring abuses committed by his own supporters.

The human rights division of Ivory Coast's UN mission, UNOCI, visited the prisoners on 11 December.

"UNOCI Human Rights observed that about 150 detainees were admitted at the prison infirmary, including six in a serious condition and three of whom required medical evacuation to a hospital," an internal UN report said after the visit.

Michel Gbagbo, the son of the former president and head of his FPI party's prisoner affairs committee, said many were suffering from dehydration and others had seen a worsening of health problems linked to their treatment since their arrests.

Asked about the inmates on Wednesday, government spokesperson Bruno Kone said he was not aware any were suffering from health problems.