5th April, 2011
Ivory Coast’s embattled strongman Laurent Gbagbo is “negotiating his surrender,†Ally Coulibaly, the ambassador to France appointed by his rival Alassane Outtara, said today as fighters surrounded the presidential palace in Abidjan.
With the United Nations Peace Keeping Forces joining the pro-Quattara fighters in shelling Gbagbo’s heavy weaponry, the fighters are hoping that they would capture the recalcitrant Laurent Gbagbo today and hand him over to the United Nations for trial.
Patrick Achi, a spokesman for Ouattara, said: “We do not see why Gbagbo shall not surrender,†adding the new government may seek to have Gbagbo tried by the International Court of Justice.
Gbagbo’s propaganda TV station has reportedly been destroyed as no transmission has emanated from it since yesterday.
The renewed war in Ivory Coast began after a contrived presidential stalemate by Gbagbo and his team following an election in November, believed by the world to have been won by Ouattara, a former Vice president of the International Monetary Fund.
Gbagbo adamantly declined to concede defeat despite the plea by the international community and the African Union. Gbagbo’s supporters began attacking Quattara’s supporters and foreigners, leading to thousands of foreigners leaving the country.
United Nations helicopters fired on a camp controlled by Gbagbo on Monday to prevent the use of heavy weapons against civilians and UN peacekeepers, a UN spokesman said.
UN Peacekeeping Director Alain Le Roy told reporters the body is not taking sides in the conflict, but had to act after three days of fire from Gbagbo forces left four UN peacekeepers seriously injured.
The CNN reported today that France also sent 350 peacekeepers to the country over the weekend and took control of the airport in Abidjan, the French Ministry of Defence said Sunday. The new French troops joined the existing UN peacekeeping mission of about 7,500 troops already in the country.
