Laurent Gbagbo was arrested Monday, April 11, in Abidjan during an offensive against his residence, and taken to the Golf Hotel, headquarters of Alassane Ouattara, where he would be held in the company of his wife. Jean-Marc Simon, the Ambassador of France place, confirmed the arrest to 3: 30 P.m. Paris time. But the conditions of operation give rise for the time being to conflicting versions.
Guillaume Soro, Prime Minister of the country, invited Monday the last supporters of Gbagbo's camp to lay down their arms. ' I solemnly address the officers, NCOs, military of the rank of all forces, I launches you a last call to the rally. It can be no human hunting, so join the Republican forces', said Guillaume Soro in a speech broadcast on French television. Guillaume Soro also asked the population ' keep calm'.'People of Côte d'Ivoire, dry your tears, the nightmare is over. Long live the Republic of Côte d'Ivoire ', he added.
Alassane Ouattara forces are the cause of the arrest, acted as a spokesman for camp in Paris. 'President Gbagbo was arrested by French special forces and handed over to leaders of the rebellion', instead told Reuters Toussaint Alain, Adviser to Laurent Gbagbo, from Paris. 'These leaders of the rebellion have been conveyed on the spot by French forces who entered the residence with tanks', he added. 'The President was in his Office.'
On the Quai d'Orsay, he indicated that these are the forces of the new Ivorian President, ' supported by UNOCI UN ivory side operation and the French special forces', who developed an endpoint at the headquarters of the residence. The Ambassador of France Jean-Marc Simon then assured that "Laurent Gbagbo was arrested by Republican of Côte d'Ivoire (FRCI, pro-Ouattara) and Forces led by the FRCI Hotel du Golf". "At no time" French forces entered Monday in Abidjan "in the gardens or the presidential residence" where the former President, had taken refuge said in Paris the staff of the armed forces. Late afternoon, the Minister of defence Gérard Longuet has reaffirmed that it was an 'in fine between Ivorians' operation, with a 'support' of the French forces and UNOCI, and repeated qu "no UNOCI and French soldier entered the presidential residence ' of Laurent Gbagbo.
The troops of President elected Alassane Ouattara had, after an offensive blitz on the capital, failed to silence so far the definitely the arms of pro-Gbagbo in Abidjan, and to ensure that the person of former strong man of Côte d'Ivoire. The event occurs after four months of political chaos in the country, following presidential elections which had in principle brought to power Alassane Ouattara.
A few days ago the military involvement of Paris was made stronger. Thus, the helicopters of the French Licorne force opened fire Sunday and Monday around the Presidential Palace and residence where Laurent Gbagbo is deleted then. On 4 April, these shots were ordered at the express request of the Secretary-General of the United Nations Ban Ki-moon and within the strict framework of the 1975 of the Security Council resolution, but operation has nevertheless been violently denounced by supporters of Laurent Gbagbo as a direct intervention in favour of Mr. Ouattara. The France "has no other objective (as) to assassinate the head of State", immediately charged the spokesman of his Government, Ahoua Don Mello.
The arrest of the Ivorian President Laurent Gbagbo out will allow the country to "know the peace and a resurgence of economic growth", said Monday the French Minister of the Interior, Claude Guéant, on the sidelines of a meeting to Luxembourg. "The misfortunes that struck this country, he will finally know peace and renewed economic growth." "He deserves it." Laurent Gbagbo "must be treated with respect", for its part said Monday in London the British Minister of Foreign Affairs, William Hague.
The Ivorian President outgoing "should not receive a golden exile" abroad that would exempt him from prosecution for "crimes against humanity", considered the Human Rights Watch (HRW) Organization. "Laurent Gbagbo has been implicated in a credible manner in crimes against humanity and other atrocities which it must respond." "It should not benefit from an exile Golden in a country that would protect him against prosecution in national or international level," said Manager Africa of HRW, Daniel Bekele, in a message sent to AFP in Dakar.
VIDEO Laurent Gbagbo after his arrest
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