Minister for Youth Charles Ble Goude urged the Ivorian people to gather in the central Place de la Republique on December 29 to reject international interference in Ivory Coast's affairs and support Gbagbo's rule.
Goude insisted the demonstration would be peaceful but, given his record of organising violent anti-French protests in 2004, his call will raise concerns of renewed clashes in the tense and unstable city."The youth have no intention of attacking anyone, there's no plan to use force, there's no plan for confrontation," he told reporters, insisting that he wanted a peaceful resolution to the crisis.
"We'll come all dressed in white, to try to show people that the majority of Ivorians want to be left in peace, to get back to work," he said.
Both Gbagbo and long-time rival Alassane Ouattara claimed victory after last month's Ivorian election, and both have declared themselves president.
Ouattara has been recognised by the international community, but Gbagbo has refused to step down. His security forces have been accused of ordering scores of extra-judicial killings in a crackdown on Ouattara supporters.
Young PatriotsBle Goude, meanwhile, has embarked on a week-long tour of Abidjan districts, swapping his ministerial suit and tie for the jeans and baseball cap he wore in 2004 when leading his "Young Patriots" in violent demonstrations.
Following that conflict, Ble Goude was placed on a UN list of Ivorians banned from travel for "acts of violence by street militias, including beatings, rapes and extra-judicial killings".
The man nicknamed the "General of the Street" accuses UN peacekeepers, France and the United States of violating Ivorian sovereignty, and has urged his followers to prepare for a "peaceful combat" for their dignity.
And he warned West African leaders, who will meet on Friday, that if they were to send extra troops to bolster the UN mission they would find Ivorians would stand up to them, dubbing this "the road towards suicide for Africa".
Ble Goude insists his group has no violent intent, but the UN mission in Ivory Coast complains that civilians and unidentified masked gunmen have joined Gbagbo's security forces in harassing and blockading peacekeepers.
http://www.news24.com/Africa/News/Ivory-Coast-Street-General-calls-mass-rally-20101223