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'Final battle' underway in Cote d'Ivoire with UN intervention
Source: Xinhua |
April 5, 2011, Tuesday
|
Online Edition
Online Edition
THE camp of Cote d'Ivoire's internationally recognized president Alassane Ouattara made a final attempt yesterday to take over control of the West African country.
The camp's spokesman Alain Lobognon said that forces backing Ouattara started the final offensive in the afternoon at the main targets -- the state television, the presidential palace and the presidential residence.
These facilities were the last bastions of Ouattara's presidential rival Laurent Gbagbo in Abidjan, the biggest city of the world's top cocoa-producing country.
The declaration came amid reports that 4,000 fighters had entered the city to join the some 5,000 pro-Ouattara warriors fighting day in and day out since Thursday.
Explosions and firing of heavy weapons could be heard in the city yesterday afternoon and early this morning as the showdown unfolded. It remained unknown how long the last battle would last.
The resistance by pro-Gbagbo forces has proved stronger than expected in the Abidjan battle, which is seen as decisive for the 65-year-old incumbent president.
Since the November 28 presidential runoff, Cote d'Ivoire has been torn apart by the two claimants to the presidency, with Ouattara enjoying broad international support but Gbagbo refusing to relinquish power.
Pro-Ouattara forces have gained control over much of the country before reaching Abidjan on Thursday.
The camp's spokesman Alain Lobognon said that forces backing Ouattara started the final offensive in the afternoon at the main targets -- the state television, the presidential palace and the presidential residence.
These facilities were the last bastions of Ouattara's presidential rival Laurent Gbagbo in Abidjan, the biggest city of the world's top cocoa-producing country.
The declaration came amid reports that 4,000 fighters had entered the city to join the some 5,000 pro-Ouattara warriors fighting day in and day out since Thursday.
Explosions and firing of heavy weapons could be heard in the city yesterday afternoon and early this morning as the showdown unfolded. It remained unknown how long the last battle would last.
The resistance by pro-Gbagbo forces has proved stronger than expected in the Abidjan battle, which is seen as decisive for the 65-year-old incumbent president.
Since the November 28 presidential runoff, Cote d'Ivoire has been torn apart by the two claimants to the presidency, with Ouattara enjoying broad international support but Gbagbo refusing to relinquish power.
Pro-Ouattara forces have gained control over much of the country before reaching Abidjan on Thursday.
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