UN investigators visit the site of an alleged mass grave in Yopougon district,Abidjan, Ivory Coast
SENEGAL, Ivory Coast - United Nations investigators in the Ivory Coast have discovered 68 decomposed bodies underneath a football pitch in former capital Abidjan.According to African football hub Kick-Off Magazine, the victims were most likely killed by forces loyal to ex-president Laurent Gbagbo (whose defaced campaign poster is pictured above). The bodies were discovered in a shallow grave in the centre of a football pitch in Yopougon, Abidjan.
The UN believes that the victims were killed on April 12, the day after rebel leader Gbagbo was arrested. UN spokesperon Hamadoun Touré confirmed the report to the Associated Press on Monday.- Eye witnesses have described the killings and said that they were forced by rebel forces to bury the victims in 10 different mass graves. The largest grave held 31 bodies.
- Ex-president Laurent Gbagbo's refusal to cede power after losing the November election led to a violent four-month crisis in the West African nation.
In addition to a death toll, one whichis believed to be in the thousands, thousands of lives have been lost and football activities within the country were suspended. However, the Ivorian Football Federation (FIF) last week that the Ivorian 2011 football season will finally begin on May 28.
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