Cote D’Ivoire’s Gbagbo Surrenders to Ouattara Forces

Cote D’Ivoire’s Gbagbo Surrenders to Ouattara Forces

Cote d'Ivoire's Laurent Gbagbo has surrendered to the forces of presidential claimant Alassane Ouattara and is being held by them, the United Nations has said.

The United Nations mission in Cote d'Ivoire, which confirmed the report on Monday, said that Gbagbo was currently in their custody.

UN spokesman Farhan Haq said that the UN mission, known as UNOCI, was "providing

protection and security in accordance with its mandate."

He told newsmen that UNOCI was mandated to protect political stakeholders in Cote d'Ivoire, which included Gbagbo.

Arrest

Gbagbo was said to have been arrested after a raid by French forces on a bunker at his residence in Abidjan.

Gbagbo advisor, Toussaint Alain, told newsmen that the incumbent president had been "arrested by French Special Forces in his residence" and "handed over to the rebel leaders".

Ouattara spokesman said that Gbagbo, along with his wife and several advisors, was being held at the Golf Hotel, which has been Ouattara's headquarters since a disputed presidential poll in late November. Pictures on Ivorian private television said to be owned by Ouattara, showed Gbagbo being ushered into a room at the hotel and being assisted to change his shirt.

 Ouattara has urged the forces to ensure that Gbagbo is safe and in good health.

Cote d'Ivoire's ambassador to the United Nations, Youssoufou Bamba, said that Gbagbo was "alive and well", and that he would "be brought to justice for the crimes he has committed".

In an address to the Ivorian people carried by French television station i-tele, the country's Ouattara-appointed Prime Minister, Guillaume Soro, made an appeal to rivals to join the Ouattara camp, stressing that there would not be a manhunt.

According to reports, the city was tense following the arrest, with neighbourhoods around the presidential residence completely deserted, while those around the Golf Hotel were beginning to fill up with armed Ouattara supporters.

Reactions

Nicolas Sarkozy, the French president, had a lengthy telephone conversation with Ouattara shortly after Gbagbo's arrest, the Elysee palace said.

British Foreign Minister, William Hague, greeted the news by saying that Gbagbo must be "treated with respect and any judicial process that follows should be a fair and properly organised judicial process".

The United Nations Security Council received a briefing from the Under Secretary-General and Head of Peacekeeping, Alain Le Roy, at the body's headquarters in New York following the capture.

Al Jazeera/Williams/Ekata