Gbagbo home 'taken by rebel fighters'
Forces backing Ivory Coast’s democratically elected leader have seized the presidential home where the entrenched incumbent is in a bunker, a senior diplomat said.
The diplomat, who spoke on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the matter, said that fighters loyal to Alassane Ouattara had taken the residence in the city of Abidjan.
Forces aiming to topple strongman Laurent Gbagbo took nearly the entire country in just three days last week.
But they faltered once they reached the country’s largest city, Abidjan, where the presidential palace and residence are located.
The United Nations and French forces opened fire with attack helicopters yesterday on Gbagbo’s arsenal, as columns of foot soldiers allied with his challenger finally pierced the city limit.
A spokesman for Gbagbo said his home had been hit at least 50 times by a United Nations Mi-24 helicopter.
Don Ahou Mello also said that Gbagbo was “still in Abidjan” but refused to speculate on whether he was considering resigning.
