Chirac calls for stronger democracy in Africa

PARIS -- French President Jacques Chirac called on Africa to embrace democracy and end violence -- particularly in warring Ivory Coast -- warning participants at a summit of African leaders Thursday that "the days of impunity are over."

Opening a two-day meeting marked by protests over France's controversial invitation to Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe, Chirac told leaders and representatives of 52 African countries that the world no longer tolerates violators of justice.

"Violence must be denounced wherever it comes from," Chirac said. "Those who perpetuate it now risk punishment at the hands of the International Criminal Court, which extends its protection to all citizens worldwide."

"The days of impunity or when people were able to justify the use of force are over," Chirac said.

Mugabe's arrival in Paris on Wednesday was met by protests and an attempt by British human rights activist Peter Tatchell to have Mugabe arrested on torture charges.

Tatchell was briefly detained Thursday near the Foreign Ministry. He planned to stage a protest along the route of Mugabe's motorcade, his associates said. They said police had warned them no more protests would be tolerated.

Thousands of police cordoned off the conference center in western Paris to keep demonstrations from upstaging the summit, which Chirac hopes will boost France's influence on the African continent.

Chirac and U.N. Secretary General Kofi Annan, who also spoke at the opening ceremony, renewed calls for Ivory Coast leaders to implement a French-brokered peace deal to end the West African county's five-month-old civil war.

Annan said the accord, between the Ivorian government and rebels, marked "a concrete step toward peace."

"It is now up to all Ivorians, and in particular their representatives, to work with determination and in good faith to revive a society at peace with itself once more," Chirac said.

Hopes that the summit would help resolve the conflict dimmed when Ivorian President Laurent Gbagbo declined to attend earlier this week, saying his country needed him at home.

Anti-French sentiment has flared in the former French colony because of the deal signed Jan. 24 in Paris. It calls for a power-sharing government that loyalists say hands too much power to rebels. France has sent 3,000 troops to enforce a fragile cease-fire and protect its citizens who became the target of violence.

Chirac defended France's role in Ivory Coast, saying its troops have "saved thousands of lives."

Since his re-election last May, Chirac has sought to develop a role as a key player in African diplomacy -- not just in former French colonies but across the continent.

Chirac spokeswoman Catherine Colonna said the president also plans to meet privately with Mugabe to convey the world's "preoccupation" with the African leader's regime.

France's invitation to Mugabe angered several countries in the European Union, which had imposed a travel ban on Mugabe to punish his government for violating human rights and pursuing policies that caused economic and political chaos in Zimbabwe. The EU also banned the sale of arms to Zimbabwe, cut off development aid and froze the country's assets in Europe.