Ivory Coast: Troops loyal to Ouattara on final push

Ivory Coast: Troops loyal to Ouattara on final push

Troops supporting the UN-recognised President of Ivory Coast, Alassane Ouattara, appear poised for a final push to oust his rival, Laurent Gbagbo, who has refused to give up the presidency.

In the main city, Abidjan, pro-Ouattara forces have launched an assault on the fortified presidential residence. Mr Ouattara's supporters launched a fresh offensive on Monday moving out from their base in the north. On Wednesday, they captured the capital, Yamoussoukro, and the key port of San Pedro.

Possible ousting

Report says this looks like the final hours for Laurent Gbagbo's government.

Abidjan residents said fighting was raging in the northern district of Cocody, where the presidential residence is located. "I can still hear heavy gunfire and loud thud of mortar fire. And it is coming from the direction of Cocody," he said.

Another resident said: "We are hearing deafening artillery shots, RPG7 [rockets] and machine guns."

UN peacekeepers and French troops have deployed into strategic points around the city in order to protect civilians. UN and French peacekeepers have taken control of Abidjan's international airport.

However, there are indications that if street battles break out, with militants attacking each other and civilians from groups seen as allied to the other side, UN peacekeepers will struggle to live up to their mandate.

Defiance
Despite this offensive, Mr Gbagbo has refused to step down though not been seen in public for weeks.  
One of Gbagbo’s spokespersons, Abdon Bayeto, said that he would not step down stressing that he has been elected for five years. He said that they would not give up the fight.

Mr Gbagbo has refused to relinquish the presidency since November's election.

Taking control

Mr Ouattara's government has said Ivory Coast's land; sea and air borders had been closed until further notice. It also declared that there would be a dusk to dawn curfew in Abidjan until Sunday.

As  Mr Ouattara's supporters, are now believed to control about 80% of the country and  the national army has put up almost no resistance since the start of the offensive, the United Nations human rights office has urged Mr Ouattara to rein in his forces, citing allegations of abductions and attacks on civilians.

"We are receiving unconfirmed but worrying reports that [pro-Ouattara forces] have been committing human rights violations during their advance towards Abidjan," a spokesman for the UN Commissioner for Human Rights Rupert Colville said.

Pressure to quit

The African Union and the US have advised Mr Gbagbo to stand down.

Mr Ouattara was internationally recognised as president last year, after the electoral commission declared him winner of the November run-off vote.

The UN, which helped organise the vote, certified it as legitimate. However, Mr Gbagbo claimed victory after the Constitutional Council overturned Mr Ouattara's win.

Defection

Following the decision of the head of the army, General Phillippe Mangou, to seek refuge with his wife and children at the home of the South African Ambassado, other senior military officers  are seen on Mr Ouattara's TV channel pledging allegiance to his government.

The head of the UN mission, Choi Young-jin, said as many as 50,000 soldiers, police and gendarmes had abandoned Mr Gbagbo, with only the Republican Guard and Special Forces personnel remaining loyal.

Mr Ouattara's government said that Mr Gbagbo would be made available to the International Criminal Court.

An armed rebellion in 2002 split the nation in two - a division the elections were meant to heal.

BBC/Margaret