Former President Flt. Lt. Jerry John Rawlings has noted with concern recent developments in Cote d’Ivoire following disputed elections in that country. In statement issued in Accra Monday, President Rawlings called for restraint and maturity from political leaders and an end to the creeping violence that threatens the peace and stability of the country. The former president called on the African Union, ECOWAS and the Ivorian leadership rivals to strongly consider the recommendations of AU envoy, Thabo Mbeki following his mediation meetings recently. “Thabo Mbeki is seen as a neutral arbiter in the crises and his report should be taken seriously and efforts made at quickly working to resolve the impasse. “The reported loss of lives following street protests and alleged abduction and execution of civilians must not be allowed to fester into a full scale conflict,” the statement said. President Rawlings urged the AU and ECOWAS to help calm the tensions in Ivory Coast and seek lasting peace and stability in the country by taking urgent steps to implement the Thabo Mbeki report. Source: President Rawlings’ blog site - http://jjrawlings.wordpress.com/