Abidjan, April 05: The copters targeted Gbagbo’s residence and military barracks in Abidjan hours after forces loyal to internationally recognized Ivory Coast President-elect Alassane Ouattara launched a new offensive against Gbagbo on Monday, AFP reported.
“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 joint UN-French campaign began after the world body’s Secretary General Ban Ki-moon requested French President Nicolas Sarkozy for an urgent military action, saying it was necessary to protect the civilian population from onslaughts by Gbagbo’s forces, under the UN resolution 1975.
However, an advisor to Gbagbo in Paris has described the attacks as an assassination attempt on the de facto president.
Ouattara’s loyalists are battling to forcefully remove Gbagbo, who has been resisting international pressure to step down.
The men captured most of the country after launching a major offensive one week ago. But the battle for Abidjan has been much harder.
Sporadic gunfire and explosions were heard in the city on Sunday and residents for the most part are staying inside their homes.
The UN mission began moving hundreds of its employees out of Abidjan after repeated attacks on its headquarters.
Deadly violence erupted in the West African nation after the disputed presidential election in November. While much of the international community has recognized Ouattara as the winner of the vote, Gbagbo refuses to cede power.
Tensions further escalated after both candidates claimed victory and appointed separate cabinets.
Months of unrest in the country has left hundreds dead and displaced around one million people.
——–Agencies