troops backed by US forces rescued them from the besieged International Christian Academy in the city of Bouake.
The mainly American and Canadian children from missionary workers across Africa were seen waving flags and shouting "Vive la France!", as armed about 100 French troops escorted their convoy through rebel held territory.
"Everyone there is ecstatic," Neil Gilliland told reporters, speaking by telephone from the affiliated Free Will Baptist Missions in Nashville, TN, before the troops arrived.
ORDEAL
It ended a nearly week-long ordeal that began last Thursday after a failed coupe attempt in which reportedly at least 270 people died. The uprising began with a core group of about 800 former soldiers, who were angry over their dismissal from the army on suspicion of disloyalty.
As fighting continued, several shots were fired at the mission compound, where the children and teachers were hold up. While they left safely Wednesday, September 25, insurgents reportedly still holed up Bouake and the northern city of Korhogo.
Hundreds of thousands of frightened citizens were still hiding in their homes, as President Laurent Gbagbo pledged to root out the rebels in what was once West Africa’s most stable and prosperous country.
SCARED
"We’re running out of everything," one Ivorian woman was quoted as saying by telephone. "We are scared." The staff and children back later arrived in Yamoussoukro, where US forces were waiting after securing the airstrip.
Several parents were reportedly trying to reach their children through difficult jungle area’s. About 300 Americans live in Bouake, Ivory Coast’s second-largest city, which has been cut off from water, electricity and food since last week’s rebel takeover.
Most of them are expected to be evacuated from the troubled African nation within the next few days. The children were to fly to Ghana aboard U.S. military planes, Pentagon officials said.
RELIEF
"I feel great relief," said Anne Oldhaver whose two teenaged Canadian grandchildren were in the besieged International Christian Academy.
"Once you get into mob thinking, everything just comes apart. Everybody has a machete, and all of a sudden arms and legs go flying. That’s the scary part," Oldhaver was quoted as saying by the Globe and Mail newspaper.
