Ouattara, April 12: Ivory Coast’s President Alassane Ouattara has called on his supporters to refrain from violence just hours after his troops detained his rival Laurent Gbagbo.
Troops loyal to Alassane Ouattara detained incumbent President Laurent Gbagbo in the main city of Abidjan, the French ambassador to Ivory Coast said.
In a brief speech broadcast on his TCI television, Ouattara said all measures had been taken to guarantee Gbagbo’s physical security.
Pro-Ouattara forces had surrounded Gbagbo’s residence for several days.
Ouattara said he would establish a Truth and Reconciliation Commission to investigate accusations of atrocities against civilians by both sides in the conflict. He also called for calm and urged militias to lay down their weapons.
“Our country has turned a painful page in its history,” Ouattara said.
Meanwhile, hours after being placed under detention by forces loyal to his presidential rival, Ivory Coast’s Laurent Gbagbo in a television message to his own supporters said: “I hope that we stop the fighting and get into the civilian part of the crisis and that we end it quickly so the country can go back to normal.”
Gbagbo’s capture comes a day after UN and French helicopters fired rockets at his residence on Sunday.
Gbagbo had refused to cede power to Ouattara following November’s presidential election.
——–Agencies