Mr Moreno-Ocampo met Prime Minister Guillaume Soro shortly after arriving Continue reading the main story Ivory Coast crisis Crown jewels looted 'War crimes' Huge rebuilding task Coulibaly: A lifetime of coups The International Criminal Court's chief prosecutor Luis Moreno-Ocampo has arrived in Ivory Coast to investigate the country's post-election violence. Mr Moreno-Ocampo will meet victims as well as government and opposition representatives during his visit. About 3,000 people were killed and 500,000 displaced in months of unrest following the November 2010 poll. Forces loyal to both President Alassane Ouattara, and his rival, Laurent Gbagbo, have been accused of abuses. Mr Ouattara took power in early May following a five-month stand-off with Mr Gbagbo, who had refused to accept defeat. House arrest   Mr Moreno-Ocampo said he "thanked the government for the invitation" to make the visit, af...

Forces backing Ivory Coast's internationally-recognized president Wednesday renewed their assault on the country's incumbent president after he refused to admit electoral defeat and surrender. Listen Forces supporting Alassane Ouattara waited more than one day while French and United Nations officials tried to convince incumbent president Laurent Gbagbo's to give up power. But Gbagbo refused to acknowledge that he lost November's presidential election.  So pro-Ouattara forces renewed their attack on Gbagbo's residence and the presidential palace in what they say is a final push to end this four-month political crisis over Ivory Coast's presidency. U.N. and French attack helicopters destroyed heavy weapons at Gbagbo's residence and his main military barracks Monday. Gbagbo allies say those forces were also involved in Wednesday's fighting as part of what they call an assassination attempt against Gbagbo - an allegation the French offi...

Troops loyal to Alassance Ouattara have been told not to kill Laurent Gbagbo Continue reading the main story Ivory Coast crisis Ivory Coast crisis Live Ouattara's political tightrope In pictures: Ivorian endgame? Q&A: Ivory Coast crisis Forces opposed to Ivory Coast leader Laurent Gbagbo have launched a final assault on his presidential residence. He has been negotiating departure terms with the UN while under siege by troops loyal to his rival Alassane Ouattara. But France's foreign minister said talks had failed, blaming Mr Gbagbo. Gunfire and fighting have been heard at Mr Gbagbo's residence in Abidjan. Mr Gbagbo insists he won November's run-off vote, but election officials found Mr Ouattara was the winner. That result was certified by the UN, but Mr Gbagbo has refused to leave office. Mr Gbagbo and his family are believed to be sheltering in the bunker of the...

(CNN) -- Forces loyal to Ivory Coast's elected President Alassane Ouattara stormed the residence of his rival, Laurent Gbagbo, Wednesday, an Ouattara spokeswoman said, potentially heralding the end of a bloody conflict in the West African country. The Ouattara forces are inside Gbagbo's residence but have not captured him yet, Affoussy Bamba said from the main city, Abidjan. They discovered heavy weapons inside the residence, she said. A spokesman for Gbagbo, Ahoua Don Mello, confirmed the residence was under attack and expressed amazement at the assault. Gbagbo is prepared to discuss African Union proposals for a handover of power, but cannot talk about surrender before discussions even begin, Mello said. He would not confirm Gbagbo is in the residence that is under attack, but said he was in Abidjan. "They are trying to get him and to kill him," Mello said. U.N. attack helicopters could resume their operations on Wednesday, the head of U.N. peacekeepin...

Click to play The BBC's Andrew Harding says news of a possible surrender has been greeted with "weary relief" Continue reading the main story Ivory Coast crisis Ouattara's political tightrope Eyewitness: Panic in Abidjan In pictures: Battle for Abidjan Q&A: Ivory Coast crisis The UN says three generals loyal to Ivory Coast's besieged President Laurent Gbagbo are negotiating terms for surrender in return for guarantees of safety for him and themselves. France says negotiators are on the brink of agreeing his departure. Mr Gbagbo is sheltering with...

<div class="warning"> <img class="holding" src="http://news.bbcimg.co.uk/media/images/52006000/jpg/_52006174_jex_1008590_de27-1.jpg" alt="Ivory Coast conflict" /> <p><strong>Please turn on JavaScript.</strong> Media requires JavaScript to play.</p> </div> Click to play Advertisement The BBC's Andrew Harding watched pro-Ouattara fighters head into Abidjan Continue reading the main story Ivory Coast crisis Ivory Coast ...

<div class="warning"> <img class="holding" src="http://news.bbcimg.co.uk/media/images/52006000/jpg/_52006174_jex_1008590_de27-1.jpg" alt="Ivory Coast conflict" /> <p><strong>Please turn on JavaScript.</strong> Media requires JavaScript to play.</p> </div> Click to play Advertisement The BBC's Andrew Harding watched pro-Ouattara fighters head into Abidjan Continue reading the main story Ivory Coast crisis Eyewitness: P...

ABIDJAN, Ivory Coast (AP) -- Ivory Coast strongman Laurent Gbagbo is negotiating his surrender, a diplomat said Tuesday after United Nations and French forces bombarded military sites, backing Ivorian fighters who are trying to install the elected president. The offensive by U.N. and French forces that began Monday included air attacks on the presidential residence and three strategic military garrisons, marking an unprecedented escalation in the international community's efforts to oust Gbagbo. He was declared the loser of elections in November but refused to cede power to winner Alassane Ouattara even as the world's largest cocoa producer teetered on the brink of all-out civil war. Ivorian fighters loyal to Ouattara had succeeded in taking nearly the entire countryside in just three days last week, but they faltered once they reached Abidjan, country's largest city where the presidential palace and residence are located. With the help of international forces, the fi...

©AFP/File / Sia Kambou File photo of Ivory Coast's embattled strongman Laurent Gbagbo, who is apparently "negotiating his surrender", Ally Coulibaly, the ambassador to France appointed by his rival Alassane Ouattara, said Tuesday. ©AFP/File / Sia Kambou Ivory Coast's embattled strongman Laurent Gbagbo, is apparently "negotiating his surrender" PARIS (AFP) - Ivory Coast's embattled strongman Laurent Gbagbo is apparently "negotiating his surrender," Ally Coulibaly, the ambassador to France appointed by his rival Alassane Ouattara, said Tuesday. "I believe Laurent Gbagbo is alive. I have learned that he is negotiating his surrender," the diplomat said on French radio RFI. "Abidjan has become a rumour mill and I do not want to add to the disinformation. What I have learned is that since yesterday he (Gbagbo) has been seeking to negotiate. It is not too late," said the diplomat, a close advisor to Ouattara, the int...

Editor's Note: Background context and explainer on what's causing the conflict in Ivory Coast (CNN) -- Forces loyal to President Alassane Ouattara have surrounded the residence of rival Laurent Gbagbo, a spokesman for Ouattara told CNN Monday night. Patrick Achi said he is about 80% sure that Gbagbo is still inside the presidential palace and will be captured by Tuesday. "We do not see why he shall not surrender," Achi said, adding the new government may seek to have Gbagbo tried by the International Court of Justice. CNN could not independently confirm Achi's claims, which include a report that Gbagbo's TV station was destroyed. The United Nations said it did not know what might be happening at the palace. U.N. helicopters fired on a camp controlled by Gbagbo on Monday to prevent the use of heavy weapons against civilians and U.N. peacekeepers, a U.N. spokesman said. "The security situation has deteriorated dramatically" with an escala...

Photo: AFP Fire and smoke billows from the Akouedo military camp in Abidjan on April 4, 2011, after UN helicopters fired on troops loyal to Laurent Gbagbo French troops and United Nations peacekeepers are joining the fight against Ivory Coast's incumbent president as forces backing the country's internationally recognized lea...

Click to play A resident in Abidjan says his house shook as bombing took place Continue reading the main story Ivory Coast crisis Eyewitness: Panic in Abidjan In pictures: Battle for Abidjan Q&A: Ivory Coast crisis Key players French and UN helicopters have fired on military camps operated by Ivory Coast incumbent leader Laurent Gbagbo, in an effort to halt attacks on civilians. The presidential palace was also hit in the helicopter attacks, witnesses said. The strikes came as fighters backing Mr Gbagbo's rival Alassane Ouattara stepped up their attempts to take ...

(CNN) -- French peacekeepers in war-torn Ivory Coast were in control of the airport in the main city of Abidjan, the French Ministry of Defense said Sunday, as a battle for the city seemed to be looming. An additional 350 French troops joined the United Nations peacekeeping mission overnight, the ministry added. There were about 7,500 troops already in the country under the U.N. mandate. United Nations helicopters and French forces patrolled the skies over the city as a tense calm reigned Sunday morning, a local resident told CNN. The uneasy peace came in the wake of claims of a massacre as fighters backing internationally recognized President Alassane Ouattara battle forces loyal to Laurent Gbagbo, who refuses to leave office. Foreign journalists reported being targeted and scrutinized. A group of journalists from the French TV channel France 2 were fired on by Gbagbo's forces when they tried to leave the Novotel hotel in Abidjan, according to the channel and two journalis...

The BBC's Andrew Harding reports from the western town of Duekoue Continue reading the main story Ivory Coast crisis 'Gunfire all the time' In pictures: Battle for Abidjan Q&A: Ivory Coast crisis Saturday: Events and reaction The UN secretary general has urged Ivory Coast's internationally-backed president to investigate hundreds of deaths blamed partly on his supporters. Ban Ki-moon said he was "concerned and alarmed" about the reports, from the town of Duekoue, but Alassane Ouattara said his followers were not involved. UN forces are now guarding thousands of civilians taking refuge at a church. In Abidjan, fighting has continued between troops loyal to Mr Ouattara and those of his rival, Laurent Gbagbo. Pro-Ouattara forces have beaten back Laurent Gbagbo, to a few key locations, but witnesses say the city is no...

Ivorian state television RTI has reported that French forces have taken over the airport in Abidjan and called the people of Abidjan to mobilise and protect Laurent Gbagbo, the incumbent president. The pro-Gbagbo TV station on Sunday further accused Nicolas Sarkozy, French president of wanting to engage in genocide in the West African country. "Alert, Alert.. The French army is occupying since last night the airport of Felix Houphouet Boigny. Seven (7) cargo planes, transporting a hundred tanks and more than 2,000 soldiers, elements of the airport squadron have been taken prisoner. Sarkozy's men are preparing a Rwandan genocide in Ivory Coast. Ivorians, let us go out en masse and occupy the streets. Let us stay standing," the caption read over images on television. The latest developments comes as a fierce standoff between fighters loyal to Gbagbo,  and Alassane Ouattara, the country''s internationally recognised leader, int...