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UN, French troops attack Cote d'Ivoire's Gbagbo military camp
Source: Xinhua |
April 5, 2011, Tuesday
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Online Edition
Online Edition
FRENCH army helicopters fired on a military camp held by the army loyal to Cote d'Ivoire's incumbent Laurent Gbagbo yesterday in the economic capital Abidjan to add forces seeking an end to his rule.
Meanwhile witnesses reported that UN helicopters also fired on the pro-Gbagbo military camp in Abidjan.
The French Licorne troops deployed in Cote d'Ivoire has increased to 1,650 after the recent reinforcement to protect civilians. The UN mission in Cote d'Ivoire (ONUCI) has at least 9, 800 personnel in the warring West African country.
Paris, which has taken control of Abidjan's airport, said yesterday that several people were kidnapped in the past days including French nationals, indicating that the pro-Gbagbo forces were responsible for the abduction
French President Nicolas Sarkozy said he has authorized the French troops to participate in all the ONUCI operations to "neutralize" heavy arms being used by forces loyal to Gbagbo against the civilian population and UN personnel.
UN officials have admitted exchanges of fire with Gbagbo's security forces, accusing the latter of attacking first.
Gbagbo still has elite troops including the Republican Guard in his last bastions of the state television station, the presidential palace and the presidential residence.
The strong resistance by Gbagbo's military camp is biting the offensive by the rival Republican Forces headed by the country's internationally recognized President Alassane Ouattara.
The resumption of control of the state television RTI last week by Gbagbo's forces indicated a possibility of longer days of the decisive Abidjan battle than previously expected, especially by Ouattara's supporters.
Yesterday, Ouattara's spokesman Alain Lobognon declared the final offensive to take over control of the world's top cocoa producing country in West Africa.
Lobognon said the Republican Forces took action yesterday afternoon to end the war over the city.
His declaration came amid reports that 4,000 fighters entered the city to join the 5,000 pro-Ouattara forces fighting day in and day out since Thursday.
Heavy weaponry was witnessed in the city yesterday when the Republican Forces maneuvered troops for military operations.
The Republican Forces launched the military march in December while the political standoff triggered waves of post-election violence.
The pro-Ouattara forces gained ground quickly last week, taking a series of important towns before reaching Abidjan on Thursday.
The ongoing war is the second in the country since the 2002- 2003 civil war, dividing Cote d'Ivoire into Gbagbo's south and the north controlled by ex-rebel New Forces, the backbone now of the newly formed Republican Forces.
The country's November 28 presidential run-off was expected to end the long-standing division, but the political standoff over the top post unleashed another all-out war.
Meanwhile witnesses reported that UN helicopters also fired on the pro-Gbagbo military camp in Abidjan.
The French Licorne troops deployed in Cote d'Ivoire has increased to 1,650 after the recent reinforcement to protect civilians. The UN mission in Cote d'Ivoire (ONUCI) has at least 9, 800 personnel in the warring West African country.
Paris, which has taken control of Abidjan's airport, said yesterday that several people were kidnapped in the past days including French nationals, indicating that the pro-Gbagbo forces were responsible for the abduction
French President Nicolas Sarkozy said he has authorized the French troops to participate in all the ONUCI operations to "neutralize" heavy arms being used by forces loyal to Gbagbo against the civilian population and UN personnel.
UN officials have admitted exchanges of fire with Gbagbo's security forces, accusing the latter of attacking first.
Gbagbo still has elite troops including the Republican Guard in his last bastions of the state television station, the presidential palace and the presidential residence.
The strong resistance by Gbagbo's military camp is biting the offensive by the rival Republican Forces headed by the country's internationally recognized President Alassane Ouattara.
The resumption of control of the state television RTI last week by Gbagbo's forces indicated a possibility of longer days of the decisive Abidjan battle than previously expected, especially by Ouattara's supporters.
Yesterday, Ouattara's spokesman Alain Lobognon declared the final offensive to take over control of the world's top cocoa producing country in West Africa.
Lobognon said the Republican Forces took action yesterday afternoon to end the war over the city.
His declaration came amid reports that 4,000 fighters entered the city to join the 5,000 pro-Ouattara forces fighting day in and day out since Thursday.
Heavy weaponry was witnessed in the city yesterday when the Republican Forces maneuvered troops for military operations.
The Republican Forces launched the military march in December while the political standoff triggered waves of post-election violence.
The pro-Ouattara forces gained ground quickly last week, taking a series of important towns before reaching Abidjan on Thursday.
The ongoing war is the second in the country since the 2002- 2003 civil war, dividing Cote d'Ivoire into Gbagbo's south and the north controlled by ex-rebel New Forces, the backbone now of the newly formed Republican Forces.
The country's November 28 presidential run-off was expected to end the long-standing division, but the political standoff over the top post unleashed another all-out war.
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