ABIDJAN, Ivory Coast (AP) — A new report from Human Rights Watch says Ivory Coast's military has undertaken a swift, brutal and illegal campaign of arbitrary arrest and detention in response to some of the most significant violence following last year's postelection crisis.
The 73-page report released Monday says hundreds have been arbitrarily arrested and held illegally at military camps, where they have been subject to beatings and other forms of abuse.
The report says the victims are mostly perceived allies of former President Laurent Gbagbo, whose refusal to cede office after losing the November 2010 election to now-President Alassane Ouattara sparked five months of violence that claimed at least 3,000 lives.
Ivory Coast officials have vowed to investigate allegations of criminal acts by the military.
