A very complicated situation in the Ivory Coast.

Well, I finally got my bags back, but not until I went to the airport on my next shoot and not until I went back to the baggage belts myself and found them! I came out of the baggage claim and then right back to check-in and checked in for my next destination.

My next destination was an urgent departure for Abidjan, Ivory Coast. Euronews had the chance to get an exclusive interview with the incumbent president, Laurent Gbagbo. At left you see me with his councillors, Gbagbo, and with François Chignac, the journalist from Euronews. There are lots of interests involved in this election and that makes things of course very confusing to find out what is behind all the statements for each side. You can see the interview at http://fr.euronews.net/2010/12/31/exclusif-laurent-gbagbo-sexplique-sur-euronews/

Euronews also did an interview with the opposing camp of Alassane Ouatara which you can see on the same site. I know it sounds naive to wish they could all just sit down and talk it out, but both Gbagbo and Ouatara sound like intelligent men who both want the best for their country. Reminds me of the story of King Salomon and the two women who say a baby is theirs. To solve the problem, the king says he will cut the baby in two and give each half. The real mother then gives the baby to the other so as not to harm the baby. Who will make such a gesture in the Ivory Coast?