The fighters loyal to Alassane Ouattara, the man recognized as the president of Ivory Coast, today surrounded the presidential palace of incumbent leader Laurent Gbagbo, and are hoping of capturing the embattled leader. Patrick Achi, a spokesman for Ouattara, said that the fighters were 80% sure that Gbagbo was still in the residence. "We do not see why he shall not surrender," Achi said Monday.
He added that it is likely that the new government would urge the International Court of Justice to hold a trail against Gbagbo. The situation in parts of the Ivory Coast got worse in recent weeks as the fight between the two sides took the shape of a violent civil war. The trouble started in November when Gbagbo refused to accept defeat after the election to make way for Ouattara, who has been recognized as the country's president by the UN, the EU and the US.
Meanwhile, French and UN helicopters attacked the presidential palace and bases of strongman Gbagbo. A UN official said that the presidency, Gbagbo's residence and military barracks in the main city Abidjan, were targeted by the helicopters. "The final assault for the total capture of the residence and the palace will take place in the coming hours. The operation is expected to finish tonight," said Sidiki Konate, the spokesman for Ouattara's Prime Minister Guillaume Soro.
The United Nations mission UNOCI and former colonial power France's force Licorne (Unicorn) also launched joint attack to weaken pro-Gbagbo forces. "We launched the operation to protect people by putting heavy weapons, used by special forces of Laurent Gbagbo against people and against the UN peacekeepers, out of harm's way," said UNOCI spokesman Hamadoun Toure.
