Gbagbo Captured by French Troops After a 10 Day Battle

Laurent Gbagbo

IVORY COAST‘S former leader, Laurent Gbagbo, was captured by French forces on Sunday night after a 10-day battle for Abidjan, Reuters reports.

Gbagbo, whose refusal to step down after losing a presidential election in November triggered a civil war, was handed to forces loyal to the president-elect, Alassane Ouattara, a government adviser said.

Ouattara has been based at the Golf Hotel in Abidjan since the dispute began four months ago.

‘‘He has been handed to the Republican Forces. He is here at the Golf Hotel. He arrived by road and he is with several members of his family.” the adviser, Apollinaire Yapi said.

The arrest was confirmed by the French ambassador to Ivory Coast, Jean-Marc Simon.

Gbagbo‘s capture comes after United Nations and French helicopters fired on his residence in Abidjan yesterday, following a call from Ouattara to ‘neutralise’ the former president‘s heavy weapons.

Troops loyal to Ouattara, the internationally recognised winner of the election, had failed in various attempts to seize Gbagbo‘s house since April 5.

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