12.24pm: Our Africa correspondent David Smith, who are going to be answering your problems within the feedback area at 1pm, has provided some evaluation on the choices open to Gbagbo since the net closes all-around him:
The deputy leader of Ivory Coast's rebel forces advised me final month that they've got no intention of killing him, but instead want him to stand trial on the International Criminal Court, subsequent the instance of former president Charles Taylor in neighbouring Liberia. You can find developing need for this inside the wake of some hideous human rights abuses about the past 4 months.
David says talk of Gbagbo, a previous history professor, staying offered amnesty and taking up a instructing place inside the Usa is very long gone:
But he could even now go into exile, probably across the border in Ghana, which was certainly one of the nations that put the brakes on the mooted west African military intervention. Other candidates are Angola, where president Jose Eduardo dos Santos is definitely an old ally, or Zimbabwe, where by president Robert Mugabe usually welcomes any option to goad the west. Zimbabwe by now delivers refuge to previous Ethiopian dictator Mengistu Haile Mariam, wished for that notorious 'Red Terror' marketing campaign.
Then there is certainly South Africa, lately a bolthole for both equally former Madagascan president Marc Ravalomanana and exiled Haitian leader Jean-Bertrand Aristide, who returned to his homeland last month. It is really by now becoming joked that Aristide's luxury villa in Pretoria is now
empty and obtainable for Gbagbo to maneuver in. South Africa angered Gbagbo's rival, Alassane Ouattara, by refusing to consider sides more than last year's election, while it has subsequently come on board along with the relaxation with the African Union in endorsing Ouattara. Nevertheless, by
offering Gbagbo some breathing room, South Africa could fend off inner critics who say it's develop into subservient towards the west, not minimum more than Libya.
But all the noises coming from Gbagbo's bunker right now look to echo Churchill's "in defeat, defiance" - which has a end result that may resemble Hitler's fate in 1945.
12.15pm: Gbagbo might be captured within the subsequent couple of hours, as outlined by a spokeswoman for Ouattara. Speaking to CNN she explained:
The Republican forces of Cote d'Ivoire are in Laurent Gbagbo's home. I believe inside one hour they'll seize Gbagbo. Inside a single hour or two several hours.
She confirmed that a gun battle is occurring within the residence and extra that only Republican forces, allayed to Ouattara, are associated with the fighting, not UN or French troops.
eleven.53am: Ibrahim Coulibaly, a spokesman for your Ivory Coast embassy in France, just informed al-Jazeera English Gbabgo is "still in his bunker". He claimed:
Gbabgo continues to be denying the end result from the election, so these days we made the decision to go and get him from his bunker.
Coulibaly claimed they had no intention of harming Gbagbo but had no other choice than to use force to get him out of his bunker.
"That's the only implies now, we didn't have any decision. Now we have been attempting to negotiate with him."
Coulibaly denied that any French forces are involved with the assault.
eleven.37am: Affoussy Bamba, spokeswoman for that federal government of your president elect, Ouattara, has told France-24 that Gbagbo are going to be captured "soon". She stated:
With the current minute they have not however captured Gbagbo nonetheless it will occur quickly. They opened the gates and mentioned that the residence is surrounded by heavy weaponry. Now the objective should be to seize him.
Members of Ouattara's forces are reportedly underneath rigid directions through the president-elect's federal government to consider Gbago unharmed.
eleven.18am: Forces loyal to Ouattara are attacking Gbagbo's palace and therefore are setting up to take him from his bunker but the incumbent president still has some protection safeguarding him, Selay Koussi reports inside a Skype interview from Abidjan.
From my property I can listen to gunfire. Ouattara forces are firing with the bunker. They reported they will catch Mr Gbagbo in his house. Gbagbo is just not displaying any indicator of resigning. Maybe only by by doing this will he surrender. He is becoming secured by a handful of faithful militiamen and security guards.
We hope for the delighted ending otherwise it is going to be really tough.
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11.12am: There's a "real danger" that Gbabgo, his spouse and also other household members might be killed within the assault around the presidential palace, his European representative Toussaint Alain has informed AP.
Alain claimed French forces are firing from two Puma helicopters and also through the rooftop of the French ambassador's residence close by. He mentioned:
France is going to be held accountable for the death of President Gbagbo, his wife and household members and all those that are inside the residence, that is being bombarded by the French army.
French Military Spokesman Thierry Burkhard denied that French forces are firing in the residence.
11.02am: Residents across the presidential palace in Abidjan's Cocody neighbourhood say they have heard serious gunfire and loud explosions coming from your course in the palace, Reuters studies. Alfred Kouassi, who lives close to Gbagbo's residence in Cocody, advised the news agency:
I have found from my making the FRCI fighters (Ouattara forces) in pick-ups and 4x4 jeeps rushing towards Gbagbo's residence, weapons within their fingers. We will listen to computerized gunfire and in addition the thuds of large weapons coming from the residence.
ten.53am: A Gbagbo representative claims French forces are firing to the embattled Ivorian leader's residence, AP reviews.
A French government spokesman has told Reuters its forces will not be participating in on-the-ground fighting across the presidential residence palace.
Reside blog: Twitter
10.44am: The BBC's Andrew Harding tweets:
I can listen to serious bombardment in Abidjan. Has Gbagbo been haggling also very long in his bunker? Region badly requirements relaxed ending to this.
ten.41am: Fabrice Zagbayou, a Gbagbo supporter and company analyst from Abidjan, says he fears for his life inside current assault.
Zagbayou, an active Twitter consumer in the town, told the Guardian:
Laurent Gbagbo won the election. We don't will need bombing, we do not want one more leader. The French army bombed civilians, the French army bombed the president. This isn't democracy. It truly is not acceptable.
Sounding near to tears he additional:
"The French army say they desire to safe Abidjan. It truly is incorrect. It can be wrong. We feel they'll kill Laurent Gbagbo. Ouattara militia and French troops are shooting now. I'm frightened for my life. I am frightened that when the Ouattara militia discover me they may destroy me."
A French government spokesman has reported French forces are usually not participating in on-the-ground fighting across the presidential residence, based on Reuters.
ten.36am: Forces loyal to Ouattara have stormed the palace the place Gbagbo is sheltering within a bunker, a spokeswoman for that forces told Reuters. Affousy Bamba explained:
Sure they (Ouattara forces) are from the approach of coming into the residence to seize Gbagbo, they have not taken him yet, but they are while in the method, they're from the constructing.
ten.22am: There's a practical Q&A within the crisis by Richard Downie, deputy director from the Africa programme at the Washington-based Centre for Strategic Global Studies.
His answer on what happens following is most pertinent:
By holding out for so very long, Gbagbo has lost any right to negotiate the terms of his exit. In an ideal scenario, he should prepare for any trip for the International Criminal Court, whose prosecutors are closely monitoring events in Côte d'Ivoire. It remains to get observed whether an additional 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 region in which a sizeable minority openly questions his right to govern. Having been denied his right to win control from the region through the ballot box, he has ultimately claimed it by force. The serious fighting on the previous few days has led to excesses by equally sides within the conflict. The FRCI has been accused from the Worldwide Committee of the Red Cross of getting involved in a massacre within the town of Duékoué, even though 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 will probably be to promote national reconciliation. Ouattara will need to have to act with restraint toward people that opposed him and would be advised to reach out to his erstwhile enemies by including some on the more moderate Gbagbo loyalists in his authorities. There remains cause for hope despite the challenges. Ivoirian political leaders have shown an impressive capacity to patch up their differences inside previous; individuals skills are going to be needed again while in 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 will "take Gbagbo out of his bunker exactly where he's hiding".
There're heading to your presidential palace.
It appears that they have lost patience with attempts to negotiate Gbagbo's surrender.
10.01am: The Guardian's Africa correspondent David Smith are going to be taking part within a Q&A inside remarks area 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 of your conflict, the role with the UN and/or France and the scope the crisis has to affect other countries within the region.
- Alternatively, you may have concerns about the humanitarian cost on the crisis.
Simply post your question inside feedback section and David will try to respond.
9.51am: Gbagbo is resisting pressure in the United Nations and France to sign a document renouncing his claim to power, in a different setback to hopes that he will leave office imminently, Reuters reviews.
From his bunker where by he is surrounded by troops loyal to Ouattara, Gbagbo informed French Radio RFI right now:
We are not in the negotiating stage. And my departure from in which? to go where by?
But Gbagbo authorities spokesman Ahoua Don Mello, who was taking part in negotiations, told Reuters the parties are nonetheless in talks. He reported:
"Some points are even now getting discussed. Nothing has been signed, Gbagbo has not signed anything."
9.47am: There exists serious gunfire in the vicinity of Gbagbo's residence, France 24 is reporting, citing witnesses. No further details are offered.
9.17am: Gbagbo's refusal to surrender is prompting fears of more violence in Abidjan, our stringer in the city, Selay Koussi, studies. (There may be brief echo around the line at first nonetheless it gets better).
The location is quiet, but it is not safe because you some have militia men that are nevertheless faithful Mr Gbagbo who ransacking shops and supermarkets.
Many many families are running out of basic foodstuffs and water.
Many many people believe the UN and French forces again might restart the bombing to put pressure on him [Gbagbo] to relinquish power. Many people were disappointment that he said he was not heading to recognise Mr Ouattara because the victor of your election. I am afraid that if French troops and UN forces use helicopters and start firing rockets at the bunker of Mr Gbagbo the violence will raise again. People are really angry throughout Abidjan. They imagine that Mr Gbagbo is playing a nasty game while using international community. They consider he is endeavoring to get time to escape.
This day is really crucial. If nothing is done while in the subsequent 24 hrs the population might go on to your streets because there're running from basic foodstuffs and water. This might bring the nation about the verge of each 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 advised French news channel LCI:
I won the election and I'm not negotiating my departure. I find it absolutely incredible that 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 just isn't the voice of a martyr, no, no, no, I'm not looking for death. It truly is 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 materialize 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 have been accused of committing atrocities. Gbagbo and Ouattara must thus be set on notice that they're going to 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, and 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 yet yet another instance of an "aristocracy of death", in which the lives of foreigners are deemed to become worth more than these 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 within the role of a fox guarding a hen-house.
Adebajo also says other African countries have an important part to play in post-Gbagbo reconciliation:
Nigeria and South Africa must use their presence within the UN security 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 federal government. Nigeria, South Africa and Angola must speak with one particular voice to ensure that any agreement sticks.
8.46am: France's armed forces chief Edouard Guillaud has informed Europe 1 radio that Gbagbo is negotiating his surrender - the president has denied he's 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's a matter of hours, maybe during the day.
Guillard also said strikes against Gbagbo's camp could resume on the request in the United Nations and if he continued to refuse to step down.
Earlier, the French foreign minister, Alain Juppe advised France Info radio the sole thing left to discuss with Gbagbo was his departure. Juppe said:
"This obstinacy is absurd. Gbagbo has no future henceforth. Everybody's dropped him. He's holed up in his residence. With the United Nations, which is at the helm, we are heading to continue to exert pressure on him to face up to reality."
8.36am: Because the standoff on 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 from the famous scene in which Hitler launches into a furious tirade upon finally realizing the war is truly lost?
8.23am: Good morning. Welcome to live coverage of events in the Ivory Coast. Here's a summary from the latest developments:
• President Laurent Gbago remains holed up inside of a bunker with his loved ones and a handful of supporters at his palace in Abidjan. Forces loyal to his rival, Alassane Ouattara, surrounded his dwelling on Tuesday after UN helicopters attacked Gbagbo's arms stockpiles and bases.
• Gbago's spokesman, the UN and the French have all said that the incumbent president is negotiating his surrender. However, inside 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 become holding, though 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 through 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.
