Fighting in Ivory Coast Rages Around Gbagbo’s Home Skip to main content

Fighting in Ivory Coast Rages Around Gbagbo’s Home

Intense fighting is raging around the home of Ivory Coast's incumbent president Laurent Gbagbo, where forces loyal to internationally-recognized president Alassane Ouattara are battling to unseat the strongman.

It was not clear if Mr. Gbagbo was inside the home. A Paris-based advisor, Alain Toussaint, said Friday that Mr. Gbagbo has no intention of ceding power.

As gunfire and explosions rocked Abidjan on Friday, the African Union released a statement calling for Mr. Gbagbo to immediately hand over power.

Mr. Ouattara has been declared the winner of a November presidential election, but Mr. Gbagbo has refused to step down and has been able to stay in control largely with the military's help.

However, fighters loyal to Mr. Ouattara met little resistance from pro-Gbagbo troops when they swept into the main city on Thursday, after a fast-moving offensive through the country in which they captured town after town.

Ouattara forces took control of state television late Thursday and Gbagbo forces surrendered control of Abidjan's airport to U.N. peacekeepers. France said its peacekeepers are patrolling parts of Abidjan where looting broke out.

The United Nations expressed alarm on Friday about unconfirmed reports that some of Mr. Ouattara's troops have abducted and abused civilians. The U.N. called on Mr. Ouattara to restrain his fighters.

Mr. Ouattara has urged government troops to join his side in the battle for Ivory Coast.

The United States, the United Nations, former colonial power France have issued calls for Mr. Gbagbo to step down.

The United Nations says at least 494 people have been killed since the political crisis began in early December. It says up to one million have been displaced, with thousands fleeing west to Liberia or east to Ghana.


http://blogs.voanews.com/breaking-news/2011/04/01/fighting-in-ivory-coast-rages-around-gbagbos-home/
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