 |
 |
 |
Defense News - Ivory Coast |
| |
Thursday,
April 07, 2011, 08:43 AM |
|
|
| |
| The
battle continues in Abidjan between the forces of Ouattara
and Gbagbo. |
| |
|
| |
Ivory
Coast’s cornered Laurent Gbagbo is under siege in
his residence in Abidjan after his troops fended off yesterday’s
attack by his rival’s forces. At this time Gbagbo
is always in the residence of the president of the Ivory
Coast Republic.
|
|
Pro-Ouattara
fighters of the Republican Force of Ivory Coast ride an
armoured vehicle BMP-2 as they prepare for an assault on
the residence of Ivory Coast strongman Laurent Gbagbo in
Abidjan,
on April 6, 2011.
|
|
But
although Alassane Ouattara’s men were repelled by
soldiers and remnants of Gbagbo’s heavy weaponry,
they claim to have re grouped, waiting to try again.
The
incumbent president continues to insist he won the election,
despite international recognition of Mr Ouattara's victory.
Mr Gbagbo says Mr Ouattara's troops want to kill him but
they say they have strict orders to capture him alive.
Late on Wednesday, French helicopters moved in to evacuate
the Japanese ambassador, Okamura Yoshifumi, and his aides
after his home near the presidential residence was invaded
by unidentified gunmen. During the operation, French forces
exchanged fire with fighters defending Mr Gbagbo's residence.
It was not clear if the gunmen were part of the forces defending
the nearby presidential residence or the attacking forces
loyal to Mr Ouattara.
France has troops in the country alongside UN peacekeepers,
attempting to maintain security around Abidjan under the
terms of a UN Security Council resolution.
The battle for Abidjan has now been raging for a week and
it is unsafe for many of the city's four million people
to go outside.
|
| |
|
 |
|
 |
|
