Gbagbo's home under attack by Ouattara forces
Source: Agencies |
April 7, 2011, Thursday
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HEAVY arms fire rang out yesterday near the home of Cote d'Ivoire's strongman who remained holed up in a subterranean bunker, as forces backing his rival assaulted the residence to try to force him out, diplomats and witnesses said.
A spokeswoman for the government of the country's democratically elected president Alassane Ouattara said on France-24 television that pro-Ouattara forces had entered the gates of Laurent Gbagbo's residence.
"At the current moment they have not yet captured Gbagbo but it will happen soon," Affoussy Bamba said from Abidjan.
"They opened the gates and noted that the residence is surrounded by heavy weaponry. Now the objective is to capture him."
Gbagbo had appeared to be on the point of surrender on Tuesday, sending an emissary to meet with foreign ambassadors in order to negotiate the terms of his resignation.
But a senior diplomat who asked not to be named said the overture appeared to be a foil, and that Gbagbo was simply playing for time.
"The conditions set by President Ouattara are rather clear. He is demanding that Laurent Gbagbo accept his defeat and recognize the victory of the legitimately elected president," French Foreign Minister Alain Juppe said yesterday. "That's where we are today, and alas, words have given way to weapons." Neither United Nations nor French forces were involved in yesterday's fighting, he said.
Earlier, French radio RFI broadcast an interview with Gbagbo in which he said he had won last November's election and that there was no question of him leaving. "We are not at the negotiating phase. And my departure from where? My departure to where?" he asked.
Gbagbo refused to accept defeat to Ouattara in last year's election and took his country to the precipice of civil war in his bid to preserve power. His security forces are accused of using cannons, mortars and machine guns to mow down opponents in the four months since Ouattara was declared the winner of the contested vote.
But analysts say Ouattara is acutely aware that while he won last year's election with 54 percent of the vote, Gbagbo received 46 percent - representing nearly half the electorate. A diplomat who speaks to Ouattara frequently said that the leader is aware of the danger involved at this stage, because if Gbagbo is killed it may galvanize his supporters.
A spokeswoman for the government of the country's democratically elected president Alassane Ouattara said on France-24 television that pro-Ouattara forces had entered the gates of Laurent Gbagbo's residence.
"At the current moment they have not yet captured Gbagbo but it will happen soon," Affoussy Bamba said from Abidjan.
"They opened the gates and noted that the residence is surrounded by heavy weaponry. Now the objective is to capture him."
Gbagbo had appeared to be on the point of surrender on Tuesday, sending an emissary to meet with foreign ambassadors in order to negotiate the terms of his resignation.
But a senior diplomat who asked not to be named said the overture appeared to be a foil, and that Gbagbo was simply playing for time.
"The conditions set by President Ouattara are rather clear. He is demanding that Laurent Gbagbo accept his defeat and recognize the victory of the legitimately elected president," French Foreign Minister Alain Juppe said yesterday. "That's where we are today, and alas, words have given way to weapons." Neither United Nations nor French forces were involved in yesterday's fighting, he said.
Earlier, French radio RFI broadcast an interview with Gbagbo in which he said he had won last November's election and that there was no question of him leaving. "We are not at the negotiating phase. And my departure from where? My departure to where?" he asked.
Gbagbo refused to accept defeat to Ouattara in last year's election and took his country to the precipice of civil war in his bid to preserve power. His security forces are accused of using cannons, mortars and machine guns to mow down opponents in the four months since Ouattara was declared the winner of the contested vote.
But analysts say Ouattara is acutely aware that while he won last year's election with 54 percent of the vote, Gbagbo received 46 percent - representing nearly half the electorate. A diplomat who speaks to Ouattara frequently said that the leader is aware of the danger involved at this stage, because if Gbagbo is killed it may galvanize his supporters.
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