Clinton Meets With Ivory Coast President

Posted January 17th, 2012 at 7:15 am (UTC-5)
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U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has held talks with Ivory Coast President Alassane Ouattara about challenges that remain in the country following its disputed presidential election.

Clinton met with Mr. Ouattara Tuesday at the presidential palace in Abidjan during the first visit to Ivory Coast by a U.S. secretary of state in more than 25 years.

The trip is part of a four-nation tour of Africa that began Monday in Liberia. Clinton is also scheduled to visit Togo and Cape Verde.

Mr. Ouattara won the November 2010 election, but former president Laurent Gbagbo refused to cede authority. The resulting power struggle ignited a firestorm of violence that left at least 3,000 people dead.

President Ouattara took office in April of last year after pro-Ouattara forces backed by U.N. and French troops forcibly removed Mr. Gbagbo from power.