twelve.24pm: Our Africa correspondent David Smith, who will probably be answering your concerns from the remarks segment at 1pm, has supplied some evaluation on the selections open to Gbagbo since the web closes approximately him:
The deputy leader of Ivory Coast's rebel forces told me very last month that they've got no intention of killing him, but relatively want him to stand trial in the Global Criminal Court, subsequent the illustration of former president Charles Taylor in neighbouring Liberia. There may be expanding desire for this from the wake of some hideous human rights abuses more than the previous four months.
David says discuss of Gbagbo, a previous history professor, currently being offered amnesty and taking up a instructing place from the United states of america is very long gone:
But he could however go into exile, perhaps across the border in Ghana, which was one of the countries that put the brakes on the mooted west African military intervention. Other candidates are Angola, in which president Jose Eduardo dos Santos is surely an previous ally, or Zimbabwe, where president Robert Mugabe generally welcomes any chance to goad the west. Zimbabwe already provides refuge to former Ethiopian dictator Mengistu Haile Mariam, needed for the notorious 'Red Terror' marketing campaign.
Then you can find South Africa, recently a bolthole for the two previous Madagascan president Marc Ravalomanana and exiled Haitian leader Jean-Bertrand Aristide, who returned to his homeland last month. It truly is previously becoming joked that Aristide's luxury villa in Pretoria is now
empty and available for Gbagbo to move in. South Africa angered Gbagbo's rival, Alassane Ouattara, by refusing to take sides in excess of last year's election, despite the fact that it has subsequently arrive on board with all the relaxation of your African Union in endorsing Ouattara. Nonetheless, by
offering Gbagbo some breathing room, South Africa could fend off internal critics who say it's grow to be subservient for the west, not minimum above Libya.
But every one of the noises coming from Gbagbo's bunker right now seem to be to echo Churchill's "in defeat, defiance" - having a end result that might resemble Hitler's fate in 1945.
twelve.15pm: Gbagbo is going to be captured inside the subsequent couple of several hours, based on a spokeswoman for Ouattara. Talking to CNN she said:
The Republican forces of Cote d'Ivoire are in Laurent Gbagbo's property. I think within just an individual hour they will capture Gbagbo. Within just 1 hour or two several hours.
She confirmed that a gun battle is happening in the residence and extra that only Republican forces, allayed to Ouattara, are associated with the fighting, not UN or French troops.
11.53am: Ibrahim Coulibaly, a spokesman for the Ivory Coast embassy in France, just advised al-Jazeera English Gbabgo is "still in his bunker". He said:
Gbabgo is still denying the result from the election, so these days we made the decision to go and get him from his bunker.
Coulibaly said they'd no intention of harming Gbagbo but had no other alternative than to implement force to obtain him from his bunker.
"That's the sole signifies now, we didn't have any preference. We've been attempting to negotiate with him."
Coulibaly denied that any French forces are involved in the assault.
11.37am: Affoussy Bamba, spokeswoman for that authorities of the president elect, Ouattara, has advised France-24 that Gbagbo will likely be captured "soon". She mentioned:
At the present second they have not however captured Gbagbo nevertheless it will transpire soon. They opened the gates and mentioned the residence is surrounded by large weaponry. Now the objective is to seize him.
Members of Ouattara's forces are reportedly underneath strict directions through the president-elect's government to take Gbago unharmed.
11.18am: Forces loyal to Ouattara are attacking Gbagbo's palace and therefore are planning to get him from his bunker however the incumbent president still has some safety protecting him, Selay Koussi reviews within a Skype interview from Abidjan.
From my home I can hear gunfire. Ouattara forces are firing with the bunker. They explained they are going to catch Mr Gbagbo in his house. Gbagbo will not be exhibiting any sign of resigning. It's possible only by this way will he surrender. He is getting guarded by a handful of faithful militiamen and safety guards.
We wish for the content ending in any other case it really is going to be pretty hard.
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eleven.12am: You will find there's "real danger" that Gbabgo, his wife along with other relatives members might be killed inside assault to the presidential palace, his European representative Toussaint Alain has informed AP.
Alain claimed French forces are firing from two Puma helicopters and in addition from your rooftop of the French ambassador's residence close by. He said:
France might be held accountable for the death of President Gbagbo, his spouse and loved ones members and all individuals who are inside of the residence, that's being bombarded from the French army.
French Military Spokesman Thierry Burkhard denied that French forces are firing with the residence.
eleven.02am: Citizens round the presidential palace in Abidjan's Cocody neighbourhood say they have heard hefty gunfire and loud explosions coming from the direction in the palace, Reuters reports. Alfred Kouassi, who lives in close proximity to Gbagbo's residence in Cocody, informed the news company:
I have witnessed from my building the FRCI fighters (Ouattara forces) in pick-ups and 4x4 jeeps rushing towards Gbagbo's residence, weapons within their fingers. We could hear automated gunfire and also the thuds of large weapons coming in the residence.
ten.53am: A Gbagbo representative claims French forces are firing on the embattled Ivorian leader's residence, AP reviews.
A French authorities spokesman has told Reuters its forces are certainly not participating in on-the-ground fighting across the presidential residence palace.
Dwell weblog: Twitter
10.44am: The BBC's Andrew Harding tweets:
I can listen to hefty bombardment in Abidjan. Has Gbagbo been haggling as well long in his bunker? Region badly needs calm ending to this.
ten.41am: Fabrice Zagbayou, a Gbagbo supporter and business analyst from Abidjan, says he fears for his life while in the recent assault.
Zagbayou, an energetic Twitter person while in the metropolis, advised the Guardian:
Laurent Gbagbo won the election. We don't want bombing, we do not need to have another leader. The French army bombed civilians, the French army bombed the president. This isn't democracy. It is actually not acceptable.
Sounding near to tears he added:
"The French army say they prefer to secure Abidjan. It's incorrect. It's wrong. We assume they're going to kill Laurent Gbagbo. Ouattara militia and French troops are shooting now. I'm frightened for my daily life. I am frightened that in the event the Ouattara militia obtain me they are going to destroy me."
A French federal government spokesman has claimed French forces usually are not participating in on-the-ground fighting around the presidential residence, as outlined by Reuters.
10.36am: Forces loyal to Ouattara have stormed the palace where by Gbagbo is sheltering in a very bunker, a spokeswoman for the forces informed Reuters. Affousy Bamba stated:
Sure they (Ouattara forces) are inside the method of coming into the residence to seize Gbagbo, they've not taken him still, nevertheless they are inside the practice, they're inside the constructing.
ten.22am: There is a handy Q&A on the crisis by Richard Downie, deputy director on the Africa programme at the Washington-based Centre for Strategic International Studies.
His answer on what happens future is most pertinent:
By holding out for so lengthy, Gbagbo has lost any right to negotiate the terms of his exit. In an ideal scenario, he should prepare for any trip towards the Global Criminal Court, whose prosecutors are actually closely monitoring events in Côte d'Ivoire. It remains for being witnessed whether one more African country might help him escape this fate by offering him a quiet exile.
President Ouattara faces the formidable challenge of healing a deeply divided nation in which a sizeable minority openly inquiries his right to govern. Having been denied his right to win control with the region through the ballot box, he has ultimately claimed it by force. The large fighting with the previous few days has led to excesses by equally sides from the conflict. The FRCI has been accused from the Worldwide Committee of your Red Cross of becoming involved in a massacre from the town of Duékoué, while Ouattara strongly denies this claim. In addition, the incoming president will inevitably face the politically damaging claim that he was propelled to power from the French, Côte d'Ivoire's previous colonial masters. A
All of these factors dent Ouattara's credibility. For these reasons, his main priority on taking office are going to be to promote national reconciliation. Ouattara will need to act with restraint toward people who opposed him and would be advised to reach out to his erstwhile enemies by including some of your more moderate Gbagbo loyalists in his authorities. There remains cause for desire despite the challenges. Ivoirian political leaders have shown an impressive capacity to patch up their differences from the past; individuals skills is going to be needed again from the coming weeks and months.
10.08am: The Guardian's stringer, Selay Koussi, says gunfire has restarted in Abidjan after the FRCI, the pro-Outtara forces, announced that they're going to "take Gbagbo out of his bunker where by he's hiding".
These are heading for the presidential palace.
It appears that they've got lost patience with attempts to negotiate Gbagbo's surrender.
ten.01am: The Guardian's Africa correspondent David Smith might be taking part in a very Q&A while in the remarks segment below at 1pm.
- You may be interested in finding out more about the two sides in the conflict, tribal allegiances, their culpability for war crimes.
- Or you may be interested in the global aspects from the conflict, the role in the UN and/or France and the scope the crisis has to affect other nations in the region.
- Alternatively, you may have concerns about the humanitarian cost of the crisis.
Simply post your question inside feedback area and David will try to respond.
9.51am: Gbagbo is resisting pressure from your United Nations and France to indication a document renouncing his claim to power, in an additional setback to hopes that he will leave office imminently, Reuters studies.
From his bunker where he is surrounded by troops loyal to Ouattara, Gbagbo told French Radio RFI today:
We are not in the negotiating stage. And my departure from in which? to go where?
But Gbagbo authorities spokesman Ahoua Don Mello, who was taking part in negotiations, informed Reuters the parties are nonetheless in talks. He said:
"Some points are even now currently being discussed. Nothing has been signed, Gbagbo has not signed anything."
9.47am: There's heavy gunfire near Gbagbo's residence, France 24 is reporting, citing witnesses. No further details happen to be provided.
9.17am: Gbagbo's refusal to surrender is prompting fears of more violence in Abidjan, our stringer inside the metropolis, Selay Koussi, reviews. (There's brief echo on the line at first however it gets better).
The spot is quiet, but it is simply not safe because you some have militia men that are nonetheless faithful Mr Gbagbo who ransacking shops and supermarkets.
Many many families are running from basic foodstuffs and water.
Many many people feel the UN and French forces again might restart the bombing to place pressure on him [Gbagbo] to relinquish power. Many people were disappointment that he claimed he was not heading to recognise Mr Ouattara because the victor in the election. I am afraid that if French troops and UN forces use helicopters and start firing rockets on the bunker of Mr Gbagbo the violence will raise again. People are really angry throughout Abidjan. They consider that Mr Gbagbo is playing a nasty game with all the global community. They feel he's endeavoring to get time to escape.
This day is quite crucial. If nothing is done in the subsequent 24 hours the population might go on towards the streets because there're running out of basic foodstuffs and water. This might bring the nation about the verge of both chaos and collapse.
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9.01am: The Guardian has a story up about Gbagbo's denial that he's preparing to surrender. He informed French news channel LCI:
I won the election and I am not negotiating my departure. I locate it absolutely incredible the entire world is playing this ... game of poker.
He also insisted he had no intention of currently being a martyr:
"I'm not a kamikaze. I love lifestyle. My voice is just not the voice of a martyr, no, no, no, I am not looking for death. It can be not my aim to die."
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8.56am: With most people assuming Gbabgo's surrender is only a matter of time, attention is turning to what will take place after his departure. On Comment is Free, Adekeye Adebajo, director from the Centre for Conflict, writes that both equally sides have a case to answer:
Both sides are actually accused of committing atrocities. Gbagbo and Ouattara must thus be put on notice that they'll be held accountable for war crimes committed by their fighters. The financial and travel sanctions recently imposed by the UN on Gbagbo, his Lady Macbethian spouse Simone, as well as other associates, should also be extended to other peace "spoilers".
French troops must do more than just protect the airport in order to evacuate western nationals in however another instance of an "aristocracy of death", in which the lives of foreigners are deemed for being worth more than people of Africans. In addition, genuine suspicions persist about the stance adopted by pro-Ouattara France, whose previous self-interested interventions in Africa, and continuing support for local autocrats, cast the Gallic power inside the role of a fox guarding a hen-house.
Adebajo also says other African nations have an important part to play in post-Gbagbo reconciliation:
Nigeria and South Africa must use their presence to the UN protection council effectively to help craft a peaceful outcome. The African Union should help to negotiate a safe exit for Gbagbo and press Ouattara to bring in his rival's supporters into any future authorities. Nigeria, South Africa and Angola must speak with a person voice to ensure that any agreement sticks.
8.46am: France's armed forces chief Edouard Guillaud has advised Europe 1 radio that Gbagbo is negotiating his surrender - the president has denied he is doing so - and could quit office in "a matter of hours". He stated:
They (negotiations) continued through the night but unfortunately I see no breakthrough for now. Despite that, I believe it really is a matter of several hours, maybe during the day.
Guillard also reported strikes against Gbagbo's camp could resume in the request of the United Nations and if he continued to refuse to step down.
Earlier, the French foreign minister, Alain Juppe told France Info radio the sole thing left to discuss with Gbagbo was his departure. Juppe mentioned:
"This obstinacy is absurd. Gbagbo has no future henceforth. Everybody's dropped him. He's holed up in his residence. With all the United Nations, that's with the helm, we are heading to continue to exert pressure on him to face up to reality."
8.36am: Since the standoff at the presidential palace continues, the pro-Ouattara television station TCI has been putting pressure on Gbagbo/mocking the incumbent president by playing extracts from Downfall, the film about Adolf Hitler's final days in his bunker in Berlin.
How lengthy will it be before someone creates a Gbagbo-inspired parody of the famous scene exactly where Hitler launches into a furious tirade upon finally realizing that the war is truly lost?
8.23am: Good morning. Welcome to live coverage of events from the Ivory Coast. Here's a summary of your latest developments:
• President Laurent Gbago remains holed up inside a bunker with his spouse and children and a handful of supporters at his palace in Abidjan. Forces loyal to his rival, Alassane Ouattara, surrounded his house on Tuesday after UN helicopters attacked Gbagbo's arms stockpiles and bases.
• Gbago's spokesman, the UN and the French have all claimed that the incumbent president is negotiating his surrender. However, within a telephone interview with French news channel LCI, the incumbent president insisted "no decision has but been taken".
• A ceasefire declared by Gbagbo's generals in Abidjan yesterday appears to get holding, whilst the UN says there has been "sporadic shooting" by gangs of youths not allied to either the incumbent president or his rival.
• There are fears of a humanitarian crisis with people confined to their houses by the fighting. Food, medical supplies and water are all in short supply in Abidjan. Many people are also without electricity. There have also been armed, xenophobic attacks against west African nationals and Malian migrants, with guns and knives.
