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Waste-hit Ivorians await cabinet Ivorian cabinet plans put on hold
(about 7 hours later)
Ivory Coast is set to get a new cabinet after the previous one resigned over a toxic waste scandal in Abidjan. Ivory Coast opposition groups say they will play no part in a new national unity government after the previous one was sacked over a toxic waste scandal.
PM Charles Konan Banny has said he needs until next week to form a new cabinet that again has representatives from the armed and unarmed opposition.
Leaking toxic waste has killed three people and made 1,500 ill in Abidjan.
The waste scandal is now a crisis threatening Ivory Coast's fragile peace process, our correspondent says.
The Ivory Coast has been split in two since rebels took charge of the north four years ago.
A UN-backed peace process led to the creation of a national unity government last December, combining supporters of President Laurent Gbagbo, political opposition groups and rebel representatives.
The government was supposed to steer the country to elections this October.
Peace at risk
Armed and unarmed opposition groups say they were shocked by Mr Konan Banny's decision to dissolve the government.
I'm feeling very bad in the throat and I have headaches and I cannot breathe properly Abidjan resident Is Africa a dumping ground? Eyewitness: Exposed
They object to President Gbagbo's decision asking Mr Konan Banny to stay on as leader and nominate a new cabinet.
"We won't participate in a government led by a prime minister nominated by Gbagbo," opposition spokesman Alphonse Djedje Mady told Reuters news agency.
The opposition has also called for the creation of a new executive body to lead Ivory Coast to elections.
The BBC's James Copnall in Abidjan says the fragile peace process will receive a serious blow if the national unity government truly falls apart.
Unclear circumstances
Our correspondent says any new cabinet's first and most urgent task will be to help those still suffering from the effects of the toxic waste.
Three people have died and more than 1,500 have been treated after inhaling fumes from waste apparently dumped at sites in the city two weeks ago.Three people have died and more than 1,500 have been treated after inhaling fumes from waste apparently dumped at sites in the city two weeks ago.
The cabinet will still include members of the ruling party, rebels and the opposition under a peace deal aimed at preventing war in the divided country.
It is unclear who dumped the waste but local papers are alleging corruption.It is unclear who dumped the waste but local papers are alleging corruption.
Prime Minister Charles Konan Banny is set to present the list of new names to President Laurent Gbagbo. href="/1/hi/in_pictures/5322760.stm" class="">In pictures: Toxic waste href="/1/hi/world/africa/5323222.stm" class="">Waste adds to Ivorian woes
The BBC's James Copnall in Abidjan says the new cabinet's first and most urgent task will be to help those still suffering from the effects of the toxic waste.
I'm feeling very bad in the throat and I have headaches and I cannot breathe properly Abidjan resident Is Africa a dumping ground? Eyewitness: Exposed He says the mass resignation was unprecedented and follows mounting anger at its failure to act more decisively.
Our correspondent says some feel that the decision to resign could be intended to deflect from the failure of Tuesday's summit of political leaders to break a deadlock in the peace process.
The out-going administration's last act was to set up a special fund to pay for the medical treatment for the victims of the toxic waste.
Face consequences
Foreign experts have been asked to help clear up the waste from seven locations around Ivory Coast's biggest city.Foreign experts have been asked to help clear up the waste from seven locations around Ivory Coast's biggest city.
Hundreds of youths have set up roadblocks around the city to draw attention to the problem.
Ivorian television on Wednesday interrupted its regular programmes to urge hundreds of protesters to give doctors access to sites where toxic waste was dumped.Ivorian television on Wednesday interrupted its regular programmes to urge hundreds of protesters to give doctors access to sites where toxic waste was dumped.
In pictures: Toxic waste Waste adds to Ivorian woes
It said people faced serious health threats because of the toxic material.It said people faced serious health threats because of the toxic material.
The waste was dumped by a ship several weeks ago in unclear circumstances.The waste was dumped by a ship several weeks ago in unclear circumstances.
Trafigura Beheer BV, the company that chartered the ship Probo Koala, said it was very concerned by reports that "residue from the petrol cargo" had been disposed of inappropriately.Trafigura Beheer BV, the company that chartered the ship Probo Koala, said it was very concerned by reports that "residue from the petrol cargo" had been disposed of inappropriately.
Those affected are being treated for stomach problems, nosebleeds and respiratory illnesses.
A senior aide to the prime minister told the BBC that Mr Konan Banny felt that people at the highest level should face the consequences.
Breathing problemsBreathing problems
"I'm feeling very bad in the throat and I have headaches and I cannot breathe properly," Eric, a patient seeking treatment at Abidjan's university teaching hospital city, told the BBC's Focus on Africa programme. Those affected are being treated for stomach problems, nosebleeds and respiratory illnesses.
The hospital has set up a specialist unit to deal with those suffering from similar symptoms.The hospital has set up a specialist unit to deal with those suffering from similar symptoms.
"We don't know what we're treating. When they have stinging eyes or noses we give them drops. We want to know what it is so we know how to treat it," the manager of a local hospital told Reuters news agency."We don't know what we're treating. When they have stinging eyes or noses we give them drops. We want to know what it is so we know how to treat it," the manager of a local hospital told Reuters news agency.
He added the hospital was running low on some medicines and X-ray film.He added the hospital was running low on some medicines and X-ray film.
In a statement, Trafigura Beheer BV said it told Ivorian authorities of the nature of the waste including "a written request that it should be safely disposed of, according to country laws".
"Trafigura can confirm that the residue (slops) were a mixture of gasoline, water and caustic washings," the statement continued.
Are you affected by the toxic waste? Use the form to send us your experiences.Are you affected by the toxic waste? Use the form to send us your experiences.
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