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Residence of French ambassador in Cote d'Ivoire attacked
Source: Xinhua |
April 9, 2011, Saturday
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Online Edition
Online Edition
THE residence of French ambassador to Cote d'Ivoire Jean Marc Simon was attacked yesterday by mortars and rockets, Xinhua learnt from French sources which accused forces loyal to Laurent Gbagbo of carrying out the attack.
In a retaliatory act, helicopters of the French Licorne forces bombarded Gbagbo's residence.
The residence of the French ambassador in Cote d'Ivoire is adjacent to the residence of Gbagbo, who has been holed up in a bunker within his residence under the protection of special forces.
On Wednesday, the residence of the Japanese ambassador to Cote d'Ivoire came under a heavy attack which is suspected to have been carried out by mercenaries.
At the request of Tokyo, the Japanese ambassador was airlifted by the Licorne forces. Israeli and Indian diplomats as well as Lebanese nationals also sought assistance from France to rescue them.
Cote d'Ivoire has witnessed an escalation of violence in recent days. The Cote d'Ivoire Republican Forces, loyal to the internationally recognized president Alassane Ouattara, launched an offensive on Gbagbo's residence in order to dislodge him from power.
The pro-Ouattara forces said their leader had exhausted all channels of dialogue with Gbagbo.
But Gbagbo refused to surrender and rejected to recognize Ouattara as elected president of the country.
In a message released on Thursday, Ouattara announced a blockade around Gbagbo's residence.
The country has fallen into a political crisis since the presidential run-off held on November 28 last year. Opposition leader Ouattara was declared winner by the electoral body, but the result was annulled by the Constitutional Commission, who instead gave victory to incumbent President Gbagbo.
Although Ouattara has the support of the international community including the United Nations, African Union, the Economic Community of West African States and the European Union, Gbagbo refused to cede power.
Both sworn themselves in as president of the country, and formed their respective governments headed by a prime minister.
In a retaliatory act, helicopters of the French Licorne forces bombarded Gbagbo's residence.
The residence of the French ambassador in Cote d'Ivoire is adjacent to the residence of Gbagbo, who has been holed up in a bunker within his residence under the protection of special forces.
On Wednesday, the residence of the Japanese ambassador to Cote d'Ivoire came under a heavy attack which is suspected to have been carried out by mercenaries.
At the request of Tokyo, the Japanese ambassador was airlifted by the Licorne forces. Israeli and Indian diplomats as well as Lebanese nationals also sought assistance from France to rescue them.
Cote d'Ivoire has witnessed an escalation of violence in recent days. The Cote d'Ivoire Republican Forces, loyal to the internationally recognized president Alassane Ouattara, launched an offensive on Gbagbo's residence in order to dislodge him from power.
The pro-Ouattara forces said their leader had exhausted all channels of dialogue with Gbagbo.
But Gbagbo refused to surrender and rejected to recognize Ouattara as elected president of the country.
In a message released on Thursday, Ouattara announced a blockade around Gbagbo's residence.
The country has fallen into a political crisis since the presidential run-off held on November 28 last year. Opposition leader Ouattara was declared winner by the electoral body, but the result was annulled by the Constitutional Commission, who instead gave victory to incumbent President Gbagbo.
Although Ouattara has the support of the international community including the United Nations, African Union, the Economic Community of West African States and the European Union, Gbagbo refused to cede power.
Both sworn themselves in as president of the country, and formed their respective governments headed by a prime minister.
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