Laurent Gbagbo under arrest - ABC Online

TONY EASTLEY: Ivory Coast's former President Laurent Gbagbo is in custody in his rival camp.

His arrest followed a deadly day in the city of Abidjan.

Signals the start of the battle, positions military with helicopter gunships targeting Mr Gbagbo UN and French troops.

There were street battles between rival forces but as Africa correspondent Ginny Stein reports, it was the arrival of the French tanks that tipped the scales.

GINNY STEIN: just who is responsible for Laurent Gbagbo arrest is a sensitive issue.

The UN is trying to make it clear that it, neither was the French, but loyal to Alassane Ouattara, the man who expects will forces that the pieces of which pick up country and it crashed after five months of deadly conflict to unite.

The UN want to make sure that opponents no ammunition to discredit his future leadership of this fragile divided nation are given Mr Ouattara.

But what is known, that a key to this point have played French and the United Nations.

Mr Gbagbo has been in the television controlled by Mr Ouattara camp, tired, appear but shown in good health. The cameras rolled his shirt, sweat and dirt away wiping changed as he.

The Ivory Coast UN commissioned Youssoufou Bamba has sworn that Mr Gbabgo is study for crimes he committed.

YOUSSOUFOU BAMBA: Gbagbo was arrested and now he is is set to a secure location for next how to.

GINNY STEIN: US Secretary of State Hilary Clinton says that the arrest of Mr Gbabgo sends a clear message to all tyrants.

HILLARY CLINTON: This move sends a strong signal to dictators and tyrants in the entire region and around the world. The voice of their own people and free and fair elections can ignore not, and there are consequences for those on the power to brackets.

GINNY stone: while everything is over for Mr Gbagbo, the people of Abidjan are still reluctant to go outside. Mercenaries continue to roam the city and result, which their relief at because Mr. Gbagbo could be arrested fatal.

Bile bile Ben lives near where the heaviest fighting took place.

BEN Galle Galle: the Gbagbo militia, they are armed, they are here in our. They are outside, they are outside, they are too much here in our area so that we not express our happiness.

GINNY STEIN: Mr Gbagbo was defeated, but this war is far from won.

All eyes focused on the city of Abidjan. Outdoor areas once loyal to Laurent Gbagbo where took place in mass murder, who knows what will happen?

This is Ginny reporting for to the stone.

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