20110218
Xinhua
ABIDJAN, Feb. 18 (Xinhua) -- Cote d'Ivoire's producers in the cocoa-coffee industry protested angrily on Thursday in front of the European Union (EU) offices in the West African country's economic capital Abidjan.

The protesters showed their anger by burning sacs of cocoa in front of the EU offices.

The producers, who were brought together by the cocoa industry leaders, were protesting against the EU sanctions including a ban on the export of their produce.

"Our produce is rotting in the stores and we no longer have anywhere to keep what we produce. We are fed up, enough is enough, " head of the cocoa industry Bleoue Aka said.

"Politics should not be allowed to interfere with agriculture. If we do not sell our produce, how are we going to survive?" asked Yao Kouame, a farmer in the southern town of San Pedro.

The protesters warned that they would take matters in their own hands "if nothing happens by Monday."

"Today we have just burnt a sample of our produce. Next time we shall come to burn all our stock of coca in front of the European Union offices," said another farmer from the eastern town of Niable, Sansan Kouao.

The standoff between incumbent Laurent Gbagbo and his rival Alassane Ouattara has been dragging on since the Nov. 28 presidential election.

Ouattara's government, which is supported by the African institutions, the EU and the United Nations, has opted for economic sanctions to force Gbagbo to cede power.

The prohibition of cocoa-coffee exports is one of the measures taken by Ouattara's camp to exert pressure on Gbagbo.

Cocoa-coffee industry contributes 40 percent of Cote d'Ivoire's revenues. The country is the biggest cocoa producer in the world.