Ulysses31
I'm too lazy to set a usertitle.
Well at least the UN are being consistent and can't be accused of ignoring massacres in poor African nations
Ivory Coast rogue president Laurent Gbagbo 'negotiating surrender' as UN launches air assault on palace where he's holed up
Ivory Coast strongman Laurent Gbagbo is 'negotiating his surrender' after United Nations and French forces bombarded military sites, backing Ivorian fighters who are trying to install the elected president.
U.N. and French forces launched a full air assault on the presidential palace and three military garrisons yesterday marking an unprecedented escalation in the international community's efforts to topple the leader.
Gbagbo was declared the loser of elections in November but refused to cede power to winner Alassane Ouattara even as the world's largest cocoa producer teetered on the brink of all-out civil war.
Smoke is seen rising from an explosion at a Gbagbo loyalist camp after an attack by UN and French armed forces while a soldier moves along the front line in the capital Abidjan
A convoy prepares for fighting across the main city of Abidjan ahead of action by the UN and the French
Ivorian fighters loyal to Ouattara had succeeded in taking nearly the entire countryside in just three days last week, but they faltered once they reached Abidjan, country's largest city where the presidential palace and residence are located.
With the help of international forces, the fighters have pushed their way to the heart of the city to reach Gbagbo's home.
Fighting is still continuing this morning.
Ouattara's ambassador to France said Gbagbo is 'negotiating his surrender.'
Laurent Gbagbo, left, is 'negotiating his surrender' after being beaten in elections by Alassane Ouattara, right
Ali Coulibaly did not provide any details in this morning's interview with France Info radio or say where he got the information.
'I'm not trying to be demagogical or to add to the disinformation, but according to the information that I have, he's negotiating his surrender because he has realized the end is near. The game is up,' Coulibaly said.
A senior diplomat who could not be named because of the sensitivity of the matter said he had a map with blue stickers marking the six strategic points that needed to be taken out, and that five of the six had been hit by early today.
Forces loyal to Ouattara, the internationally recognised winner of Ivorian elections, gather outside the main city as the country teeters on the edge of civil war
On the road: There was less fighting towards the weekend, although it could be the calm before the storm
A UN peacekeeper from Jordan Battalion, reloads his weapon as he returns fire on troops supporting Ivory Coast strongman Laurent Gbagbo
Members of a violent youth militia loyal to Laurent Gbagbo patrol the streets of Abidjan
The five include Mr Gbagbo's residence where heavy weaponry was destroyed, the republican guard, state TV, the Akban paramilitary base, and the arms depot at Akouedo which the diplomat said were bombarded by UN Mi-24 helicopters.
A video posted on YouTube showed the depot being bombed. Tracers could be seen exploding from the burning core as Mr Gbagbo's soldiers attempted to shoot down the helicopters.
"It's all over for Gbagbo - except the shooting," said the ambassador.
At Mr Gbagbo's residence, the troops had created a perimeter around the building, waiting to see if he would come out or respond.
Mr Ouattara's adviser said that he had been told Mr Gbagbo had created a bunker inside his residence, locked from within.
UN peacekeeping chief Alain Le Roy briefed the Security Council about the action in Ivory Coast and said international forces had targeted areas around the presidential palace where Mr Gbagbo's forces were using heavy weaponry.
'There is no point to firing at the presidential palace if there are no heavy weapons,' he said.
'But we are seeing the heavy weapons very close and that is what we are firing on.'
Post-election violence has left hundreds dead - most of them Ouattara supporters - and has forced up to one million people to flee.
Mr Ouattara has used his considerable international clout to financially and diplomatically suffocate Gbagbo and pro-Ouattara forces before launching a dramatic military assault last week.
Refugees: Many people have fled from Abidjan to get away from the troubled city
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/art...ed-palace-UN-French-strike.html#ixzz1IgXhj0YF
Geez.
