UN chief presses I. Coast leader Ouattara over massacre

UNITED NATIONS: UN chief Ban Ki moon demanded that  Ivory Coast's internationally recognized president Alassane Ouattara take action against followers who took part in a massacre of about 800 people, a UN spokesman said Sunday.

Ouattara denied to Ban in a telephone conversation late Saturday that his followers were involved in events in the western town of Duekoue, according to spokesman Martin Nesirky. Ouattara said he had ordered an investigation.

The international Red Cross and United Nations say about 800 people were killed in an operation by pro Ouattara forces in the town last Tuesday as they took territory from Ivory Coast strongman Laurent Gbagbo.