Скачать или смотреть US thanks French for help in Ivory Coast rescue

(25 Sep 2002)

1. US State Department Spokesman, Richard Boucher walks in briefing room
2. SOUNDBITE: (English) Richard Boucher, US State Department spokesman
"At 8:30 am local time in the Ivory Coast (4:30 Eastern Standard Time) French forces secured the international Christian Academy. All faculty and students are safe at this time. I do want to take this opportunity to thank the government of France for its efforts to secure the school and ensure the safety of the occupants."
3. Wideshot of Boucher
4. SOUNDBITE: (English) Richard Boucher, US State Department Spokesman
"The French, we understand, are now moving the faculty and students. We have confirmation from our task force that this is underway, that they would go to the city of Yamoussoukro, where we have set up a reception centre for them, and we have consular officers on the scene. We sent two additional consular officers into the Ivory Coast to help in this situation. Also there are two C-130 aircraft and limited number of special forces."
5. Wideshot of Boucher

STORYLINE:

The United States thanked the French government on Wednesday after French troops rescued 200
foreign schoolchildren and staff trapped in a school in the Ivory Coast during the country's deadliest uprising.

The uprising - that has claimed at least 270 lives - began after a failed coup last Thursday by a core group of 750-800 ex-soldiers angry over their dismissal from the army for suspected disloyalty.

About 100 well-armed French troops moved into the International Christian Academy on the outskirts of Bouake early on Wednesday, securing the school after rebel forces breached the walls two days earlier to fire out from its grounds.

The foreigners left in a convoy of 10 to 12 cars bound for Yamoussoukro, the country's capital 40 miles (65 kilometers) to the south, where US special forces in C-130s arrived hours earlier to receive them.

Local Ivorians trapped in two besieged cities, however, cowered in homes awaiting a final showdown, with less hope of rescue.

This is the country's worst crisis since its first-ever coup in 1999 which shattered stability in the once-prosperous nation.

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