Swedish UN worker killed in Ivory Coast
A Swedish United Nations employee was shot and killed in Abidjan by a stray bullet, the Swedish foreign ministry said Friday.
Zahra Abidi, 34, was hit on Thursday night in her home in Abidjan, where she was working for the United Nations Operation in Cote d'Ivoire (UNOCI).
"It is with deep regret that I was told Swedish citizen Zahra Abidi was a victim of the ongoing fighting in the Ivory Coast," foreign minister Carl Bildt said.
Bildt had announced her death in parliament, where he was taking part in a
debate on Sweden's participation in the international mission in Libya.
"Her tragic death reminds us of the valuable work many Swedes are doing for peace and security around the world," he said.
Fighting erupted in Ivory Coast's main city Abidjan on Thursday as forces loyal to internationally recognised election winner Alassane Ouattara make a final push for power against incumbent Laurent Gbagbo, who has refused to cede power.
Bloody post-election violence has plunged the world's top cocoa producer into political and economic crisis, killing nearly 500 people and forcing more than one million people to flee.
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Zahra Abidi, 34, was hit on Thursday night in her home in Abidjan, where she was working for the United Nations Operation in Cote d'Ivoire (UNOCI).
"It is with deep regret that I was told Swedish citizen Zahra Abidi was a victim of the ongoing fighting in the Ivory Coast," foreign minister Carl Bildt said.
Bildt had announced her death in parliament, where he was taking part in a
debate on Sweden's participation in the international mission in Libya.
"Her tragic death reminds us of the valuable work many Swedes are doing for peace and security around the world," he said.
Fighting erupted in Ivory Coast's main city Abidjan on Thursday as forces loyal to internationally recognised election winner Alassane Ouattara make a final push for power against incumbent Laurent Gbagbo, who has refused to cede power.
Bloody post-election violence has plunged the world's top cocoa producer into political and economic crisis, killing nearly 500 people and forcing more than one million people to flee.
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