COTE D,IVOIRE SITUATION REPORT - 1700 GMT JULY 19,

UNCLAS ABIDJAN 000783 SIPDIS SENSITIVE SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PGOV ASEC IV SUBJECT: COTE D,IVOIRE SITUATION REPORT - 1700 GMT JULY 19, 2006 REF: A. ABIDJAN 782 ¶B. ABIDJAN 778 ¶1. (SBU) As of late afternoon, roadblocks in the Abidjan districts of Riviera (where Embassy is located),Cocody, and Deux Plateaux, where most Embassy personnel reside, have been dismantled or shut down. The airport remains open and we understand that Air France is flying tonight. An Embassy vehicle traveled to the airport via back roads late this afternoon and reported no difficulty getting through although some of the roadblocks en route abandoned by the Young Patriots are now being manned by derelicts and opportunists looking for handouts. There are reportedly some roadblocks still in place in the Yopougon area of Abidjan. ¶2. (SBU) There are unconfirmed reports that the Young Patriots have pledged to man the barricades again tomorrow starting at 0600 to disrupt the scheduled meeting of the International Working Group (IWG). No confirmation yet as to whether the IWG will in fact meet. We will review the security situation again early tomorrow morning before start of workday. Hooks