New Ivory Coast Government calls for truth and Reconciliation Commission - voice of America

Scott Stearns | Dakar, April 20, 2011 President Alassane Ouattara involved which stormed the nation from the golf hotel after former President of the C?te d ' Ivoire Laurent Gbagbo by troops, the bunker where he hung was arrested on the power in Abidjan, Ivory Coast, April 11 2011

Ivory Coast of new Government calls for a truth and Reconciliation Commission help address human rights violations, including were committed during the political crisis, and the November elections. A Commission to many challenges to reunite a country divided by more than 10 years of civil war, instability and political violence.

President Alassane Ouattara says that a truth and Reconciliation Commission helps to move Ivorians has dominated much of the last ten years on the suspicion.

President Ouattara says no reconciliation without justice and reconciliation must not be effective without forgiveness. South African President Jacob Zuma following last week arrest of former President Laurent Gbagbo, Mr Ouattara said that he telephoned to say that he must South Africa's experience and support an effective truth and Reconciliation Commission.

What about Laurent Gbagbo?

Decide, what is to do about Mr. Gbagbo is the highest-profile challenge. He refused to recognize that he Mr Ouattara was defeated last year's election and was in power for months with the help of the army.

Kenyan Prime Minister Raila Odinga was the African Union mediator between the rival President. He says, Mr. Gbagbo should be pardoned.

He said "The civil war does not stop, that is why we are talking about reconciliation,". "If we want to make up for you give to end a secure Gbagbo." Then you get some of his people, because it represent a number of people and also a large region of the country. "Get the people in the Government so you play inclusiveness."

Human rights watch says that Mr Gbagbo exile in a country should be allowed, that would protect him from persecution, as the tension in Ivory Coast would only increase.

Inherit "President Ouattara a country that is deeply divided along ethnic, religious and regional lines,", said Corinne Dufka, the West Africa Office for Human Rights Watch. She says that it depends on neutrality of the Commission with a wide political balance.

"The type of mandate and the composition of the Commission and all of these issues will then set how legitimate is useful the State such as this Commission, this very deep divisions deal and recommendations against their occurrence" she said.

President Ouattara says that the Commission will help come to terms with Ivorians with sometimes painful past.

The President says Ivorians must know what happened, if you have done, what, and why as far back as 1999. He says people have to admit, their crimes and the nation ask for forgiveness. President Ouattara says impunity will come to an end in C?te d'Ivoire, for everyone before the law equal to their political affiliation, origin, religion or ethnicity.

The promised autonomy is particularly important, as Dufka says, that some of Mr Ouattara militants guilty of violations of human rights.

"For the first several months after the elections the most serious violations committed by Gbagbo's troops against actual and perceived supporters of Ouattara,", said Dufka. "Once the armed conflict had ignited, then forces loyal to Ouattara extremely serious violations of the law committed." "And not only in the West of the country, but also in Abidjan."

Commission replace not justice

While the truth and Reconciliation Commission will play an important role in the new Ivory Coast, Dufka says that it cannot replace Justice.

"It process should be seen not as a replacement for a kind of accountability," she said. "Since this now tragic-established cannot stop cycle of violence and impunity, will have for over 10 years in C?te d ' Ivoire has to those responsible for the very serious violations against the account was in the last ten years."

The end of the political crisis between Mr Ouattara and Mr Gbagbo is an opportunity but no guarantee of a more peaceful future.

Father Daniel Meledje is a priest in Abidjan's parish Saint Etienne.? In these difficult times, says Meledje, are a peace search people, by God, is because that peace touches everyone's heart. Ivorians are peace search, so that they can live in happiness. Without peace, he says, can not people to reconcile their differences.

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Former leader of the Ivory Coast is recorded

Knysna, C?te d'Ivoire - was captured and taken by his rival in custody on Monday, ending strongman of C?te d'Ivoire, Laurent Gbagbo, a four month standoff, the hundreds dead links in this once-prosperous west African nation, international diplomacy to a severe test and ultimately dragged the country into a civil war return.

His Chief of staff outside sends helicopters in the sky in the vicinity with French, Mr Gbagbo has shown his rivals as they stormed his residence to his defeat to signal forces.

"The fight over is," said Mr Gbagbo television station to his rival after his arrest. "So he went with a white handkerchief." "The fighting is over."

For months had to African diplomats and heads of State, Abidjan, and her brief commutes Gbagbo step down with Mr after losing a presidential election last year. The United Nations, the United States and the European Union called for his resignation, imposing severe economic sanctions that crippled the economy - but could not of Mr Gbagbo makes transfer.

Instead it took helicopters devastating air attacks by French and United Nations, at the end of Mr Gbagbo play to defy the international community, to help his rival, Alassane Ouattara, combat and to extend his rule.

On Sunday evening and Monday morning the helicopter hovered offices near the presidential election and the palatial residence, where Mr Gbagbo were punctured was with his wife for days, u fire missile blasts, officially to destroy the heavy weapons were made outside, but Mr Gbagbo reduces parts last redoubts in smoking ruins.

The United Nations and French officials regime change, carefully as more than its mandate by force, insisted that their actions for the protection of civilians, no matter capture forces of the final push-to Mr Gbagbo by his rivals were exclusively.

"There was not a single French soldier in the residence," said Cmdr. Frederic Daguillon, a French military spokesman in Abidjan.

But they readily recognized, that suggests the international Mr Gbagbo defence, so that he open to capture had broken.

Alain Le Roy, Director of the peacekeeping operations of the United Nations, said the strike on Mr Gbagbo to clear heavy weapons you the way for his rival to the residence of storm may have contributed to. But he stressed that there no coordination between the United Nations forces and by Mr Ouattara and the United Nations goal quite had focused on the protection of civilians.

Similarly, a French military spokesman, Thierry Burkhard, said Mr Gbagbo enemies had "exploited" which attacks the French and United Nations, to start their own.

"He really was weakened by the strikes," said Hamadoun Touré, a spokesman for the United Nations operation in C?te d'Ivoire.

President Obama praised the French and the United Nations, Mr. Gbagbo say "Illegitimate claim to power has come finally to an end." The UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, called the arrest "the end of a chapter, which should never have."

But not the end mean the arrest the crisis, analysts warned. The air raids by France and the United Nations was expected, the many Gbagbo supporters trench fighting anti-Western adopted his passion. Although Mr Ouattara international choice recognized as the winner of last year, Gbagbo supporters now even more reason it as illegitimate, see may be forced upon them without intervention.

Mr Ouattara permanent overseas will also be tested by allegations that forces loyal to him hundreds of civilians, killed when they country, weakening his reputation than with the higher moral ground in the distance.

Mr Ouattara said "Our country only a painful page in its history has made," in a televised speech Monday night. He insisted that Mr Gbagbo guaranteed security, but announced, that he would require that against Mr Gbagbo, his wife and "all those who are arrested." opening legal proceedings You have "dignified treatment" and their rights will be respected, he vowed.

"I urge therefore my compatriots, which include a sense of revenge, any action could be taken retaliation or violence," said Mr Ouattara.

After his arrest, Mr. Gbagbo was for golf hotel, this shabby lagoon-side resort with his wife been where he had blocked Mr Ouattara for four months. Mr. Le Roy said in a strange reversal of other, previously guarded Mr Gbagbo and his wife, Simone, now of the same United Nations officials were Mr Ouattara protection has been had.

Adam Nossiter reports from Abidjan Ivory Coast; Scott Sayare of Paris; and Dan Bilefsky of the United Nations.

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Turning point for the United Nations in the Ivory Coast? -ABC Online

ELIZABETH JACKSON: the United Nations decision to act this week against the military bases of the C?te d ' Ivoire strongman Laurent Gbagbo is a groundbreaking moment for the United Nations is called.

After weeks of excuses and how their troops not only hostage were but were targeted, the UN an urgent request to France, so that the heavy weapons held by Mr Gbabgo forces as the target. While the UN action to prevent a further escalation has described a humanitarian crisis as driven by the desire, the decision appears reflects a policy shift within the UN.

Here, our correspondent Africa Ginny is stone.

GINNY STEIN: stock finally would bring the hope that elections in a country come November peace from the civil war, but 10 years after its last bitter internal conflict is to end the cycle. Shots and birdsong were familiar all too recently sounds in Abidjan.

For four months, diplomatic efforts have been made to resolve the political impasse in C?te d'Ivoire, but to no avail. When forces Abidjan trying to delete Laurent Gbagbo stormed the cycle had changed gears once again.

But outgunned, which was in danger of being not so much but spiral out of control, with the three million residents of Abidjan hostage one looming bloodbath entrenched themselves.

The UN Deputy Secretary General for human rights, Ivan Simonvic, says that the use of heavy weapons by forces against the people of Abidjan was Mr Gbagbo a key factor for their mandate to expand the resolutions of UN.

IVAN SIMONVIC: In Abidjan we had a situation when the according to estimate the medics, have head between 100 and 200 civilians who died as a result of targeted orientation heavy artillery. Those who were killed by bullets so I'm not calculation however, which were affected by the heavy weapons.

At the same time, we had a series of attacks in the United Nations to other ground of the response of the United Nations in the Act is self-defense.

GINNY STEIN: the United Nations preventive measures seems to show a new consensus among the members of the UN Security Council about his legal and moral role in the protection of civilians.

Richard Moncrieff, a political analyst at South Africa's Institute for security studies, says that the UN last failures in Bosnia, Rwanda and Darfur would have had a role in influencing the decision right to strike.

RICHARD MONCRIEFF: Some of these conflicts, where they do not intervene and things wrong bad, can be read as one of the factors here, that people do not want to see, this sort of thing being reviewed.

GINNY stone: for four months, the UN attempts to bring about a political solution while his forces on the ground tried to control an increasingly violent situation.

Mr Moncrieff says that the UN is partially frustrated was Laurent Gbagbo understanding the UN perceived weaknesses and the tactics he used to maintain the pressure.

RICHARD MONCRIEFF: they have not had much effect in C?te d'Ivoire so far and the reason for this is that the protagonists, and especially the camp of Laurent Gbagbo understand very well, in particular they tend to deal with the United Nations, unarmed civilians in the way set, this is something that the United Nations are very poorly equipped to deal with - unrest especially urban unrest, which the UN not well in C?te d'Ivoire have traded in the last 10 years.

So you know, there are reasons why they have no longer fully up to now, but I think at this point, you know, it is a reputational risk at stake for the United Nations, you know, if it can not all do, to a massacre if it already has troops directly on the ground in Abidjan, then I think people would start to stop questions, you know, what good is it?

GINNY STEIN: but what comes next is the biggest challenge of the country. Life goes to Laurent Gbagbo, the biggest challenge in a country that not only are shared but where hate speech has long prevailed between the various ethnic populations.

RICHARD MONCRIEFF: The problem of how the country can be ruled and brought under control is extremely difficult be. The population of C?te d'Ivoire was fed drip a discourse of hate for years and years now and it has really poisoned the relationship between different populations, and it will make it extremely difficult.

GINNY STEIN: more than ever before, subdivided unresolved massacres and legions of the fighters, who in may be convinced one the spoils of war that its a country, lay down their arms, but not Laurent Gbagbo and Alassane Ouattara are their loyalty.

This is Ginny Stein report reporting for correspondent.

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Ivory Coast: 100 found more bodies as ethnic tensions rise - the guardian

Alassane Ouattara, said his troops secure the streets of Abidjan and to establish a perimeter Laurent Gbagbo would link. Photo: Rebecca Blackwell/AP

UN investigators found more than 100 facilities in C?te d'Ivoire, to have been victims of what ethnically motivated massacres appear in the last 24 hours. Some seem alive have been burned and others were thrown into a well, said a spokesman for the UN High Commissioner for human rights.

The killings at three locations in western Ivory Coast occurred, and may have been carried out by Liberian mercenaries, according to the UN.

The discovery came as Alassane Ouattara, who said the internationally recognised President of C?te d'Ivoire, he would not try to capture Laurent Gbagbo, who has refused to leave power and is hidden in a bunker under his personal residence.

In his first televised address since the beginning said siege in Abidjan this week Ouattara he would focus on the return of the country to facilitate to normal about the fate of civilians.

The UN team discovery underlines the need for an urgent resolution on the crisis that was caused by Gbagbo's rejection of the official election results in November last year.

About 40 bodies were in Blolequin, West of Duékoué, where another last week discovered 229 bodies were found. Another 15 bodies were discovered in Duékoué, and a further 60 in the nearby town of Guiglo were found. Some of the victims were from other countries in West Africa.

Forces loyal to Ouattara were partly for the massacre in Duékoué was discovered last week made responsible. It is not yet clear that the massacre on Thursday revealed performed.

"The incidents appear at least partially ethnically motivated to have been", said Rupert Colville, UNHCHR spokesman in Geneva. "I think you have a little carefully the assignment of responsibilities be." He said, increased ethnic tensions as the conflict continues.

C?te d'Ivoire has Muslim north and Christian South and other 60 different ethnic groups. Under Gbagbo's decade-long rule, especially in the early days he tolerated and one increase in xenophobia, especially against the Ivorians, which parents came as the French from neighbouring countries. Muslims from the North - Ouattara's most important constituency - were caused much bitterness and a brief civil war also discriminated against.

Limited to the rapid progress last week having Ouattara's forces through the country Gbagbo to his bunker with his influential wife Simone. UN and French peacekeeping troops have attacked its military depots to reduce his firepower. But he refuses to make, insists that he won the election and France the blame for his predicament.

Many of Gbagbo's top generals and troops have left him, but about 200 soldiers and militia with heavy weapons are equipped subdivision, guard according to the French military his home in the upmarket Cocody. You repelled an attack by Ouattara's fighters on Wednesday.

In his television speech, Ouattara said his troops were setting up connection to a security perimeter around's Gbagbo. You would only for him to run out of water and food, and at the same time securing the streets of Abidjan, where most people in their homes of this week due to the heavy fighting remained.

Ouattara said that he soon the ban on exports of cocoa, would end up, which he announced in January. He asked the EU to Ivory Coast's major ports, designed to bring Gbagbo under pressure in resign lift sanctions.

In addition requested Ouattara Central Bank of west African States its branches in the country again salaries are paid. He also promised, human rights hold a public inquiry abuses during the conflict.

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Forces hope to use Ivory Coast leader

UN helicopter fire on a controlled by Laurent Gbagbo in Ivory Coast on Monday.Alassane Ouattara forces camp say that they expect to collect Laurent Gbagbo from TuesdayU.N. Peacekeepers are trying to prevent attacks on CiviliansOuattara is internationally recognised winner of presidential elections in C?te d'Ivoire

(CNN) - fighters surrounded the presidential palace of Laurent Gbagbo on Tuesday, hoping to capture the embattled leader.

The fighters, loyal to President Alassane Ouattara, were 80% sure that Gbagbo was still in the residence, said Patrick Achi, a spokesman for Ouattara.

"We do not see why he will not abandon," Achi said Monday, add the new Gbagbo Government by the International Court of Justice have tried search can.

CNN could not independently Achi's claims, which confirm a report included that Gbagbo's TV station was destroyed.

But at least one resident in Abidjan said Gbagbo's Government TV channel since Monday dark had been; early Tuesday, nothing out of the station was transferred.

The man who did not want to use his name, said so many feel insecure and fear shots all over the city like a soundtrack Monday, played.

Uncertainty and fear constant in parts of the Ivory Coast was in recent weeks as screwed a presidential standoff in a civil war has.

The unrest dates back to November when Gbagbo transferred refused power on Ouattara, the International President of the country after elections recognized as.

Supporters of each side are in many cities of the west African country clashed, and have in the past few days the international troops jumped into the fray.

The cause of United Nations to prevent the use of heavy weapons against civilians and United Nations peace-keeping force helicopter to a camp on Monday controlled by Gbagbo, said a spokesman for un.

UN peacekeeping Director Alain Le Roy told reporters of the body takes sides in the conflict, but be after three days of from Gbagbo left four UN peacekeepers seriously injured had.

France also 350 peacekeepers to the country over the weekend and took control of the airport in Abidjan, the French Ministry of Defense said Sunday. The existing UN peacekeeping mission around 7,500 troops joined the new French troops already in the country.

The International Committee of the Red Cross said Friday that had 800 people to death in the Western cocoa-producing town of Duekoue was shot dead. A UN officials the 330 Friday's death toll.

View the original article here

For Ivory Coast refugees ticking clock

Oxfam says more than 100,000 people crossed refugees are the border of C?te d'Ivoire to Liberia families by fighting on foot for four days that are achieving Liberian border homes in border villages share with more than 30 people, Oxfam says it is the rainy season providing aid to these villages remote jungle pull

(CNN) warn help organizations of an impending humanitarian crisis for tens of thousands of refugees, who arrived after fleeing violence in C?te d'Ivoire and in Liberia.

International aid communications agency Oxfam says more than 100,000 people crossed the border from Ivory Coast villages have to Liberia and lives in a precarious situation in jungle.

The agency according to there are many stories of women separating husbands, arrival in Liberia children of their parents, and some not survive the journey through rivers and forests lost.

The refugees displaced by the fighting that has swept in C?te d'Ivoire. The International Committee of the Red Cross said Friday that had 800 people in the Western cocoa-producing town of Duekoue was shot dead. A UN officials the 330 Friday's death toll.

The violence broke after a controversial election November both Laurent Gbagbo and rival to Alassane Ouattara, who led Presidency. The international community recognised Ouattara as legitimate winner but Gbagbo refused to cede, power and violence has the nation engulfed.

Background on what the cause of the conflict in C?te d'Ivoire.

As the rainy season approaches and fight escalates is the country in which, the Oxfam of this time warning is just, flee for help for refugees in this remote villages.

When the rains come, we will not be able to reach them, because the entire area will become inaccessible.
--Caroline gluck, Oxfam, Liberia

"If the rains come, it will fail, to reach them, because the entire area will become inaccessible,", explains Caroline Gluck, who works for Oxfam in Liberia. "The clock is ticking, people to secure and accessible."

She added that the influx of refugees that doubling is populations of some of the border villages and is a heavy burden on local, little food and facilities themselves have place.

Glug some of which has Ivory Coast, among them Gustave Glawoulou, whose Heimatstadt Blolequin interviewed came under attack by rebels escape. Glug said he fled in the middle of the night with his five children began the shots.

Glawoulou told Gluck he went for four days with his family to reach the Liberian border. To eat everything that you had, things were to find that in the forest. Now, in a border village called Ponah, he says conditions are very hard.

"There are 35 of us living in a house;" If not, we go it rains outside can, but if it rains we remain in crouched on a mat upright sitzen-- there is no place are, "he told Gluck."

"We want to leave this place, because there are too many of us, and from day to day always is it worse," Glawoulou told her. "After two or three months it could get very difficult as people are starting to get sicker because of bad food and shelter."

CNN could not independently verify this account.

Glug explained that many of the refugees in the villages have been border because they are close to their homes, and because they think they will find there and can lead relatively normal lives.

She says that many hate go to Commons if it is of the opinion it no economic opportunities.

The International Committee of the Red Cross works with Ivorian refugees in Liberia. It also warns that the growing number of refugees puts a heavy strain on Liberia host communities and says that it has registered more than 50 refugee children who have been separated from their parents.

Plan international, a children's organization works in Liberia, reported that some young people are completely traumatized by their experiences.

"Along the border of Liberia in Nimba County, I met refugee children, who could not smile and could not play." Also, they were shocked by all the violence, which had seen them, "said Berenger Berehoudougou from the group."

Also, plan says that it mostly women and children across the border from C?te d'Ivoire. "I saw only a few men."I know not what happened to the men and young, said Berehoudougou. "Some young people have told me their brothers and fathers for one of the sides in the conflict in Ivory Coast." But no one seems sure back happen in their home country, "he added."

Glug another of refugees that you had spoken with who was 15-year-old Stephane Ranhou, who arrived in the small border village Janzon, in South Eastern Liberia, with his younger sister Vanessa said. Glug said that they were, become separated from their parents and seven siblings as they fled the fighting in the documentation, and were now fed by local families.

"The villagers have their own problems, but they were very generous open their homes and provide protection for the Flüchtlinge--but there a severe lack of food, shelter and medical care are". Glug said.

View the original article here

For Ivory Coast refugees ticking clock

Oxfam says more than 100,000 people crossed refugees are the border of C?te d'Ivoire to Liberia families by fighting on foot for four days that are achieving Liberian border homes in border villages share with more than 30 people, Oxfam says it is the rainy season providing aid to these villages remote jungle pull

(CNN) warn help organizations of an impending humanitarian crisis for tens of thousands of refugees, who arrived after fleeing violence in C?te d'Ivoire and in Liberia.

International aid communications agency Oxfam says more than 100,000 people crossed the border from Ivory Coast villages have to Liberia and lives in a precarious situation in jungle.

The agency according to there are many stories of women separating husbands, arrival in Liberia children of their parents, and some not survive the journey through rivers and forests lost.

The refugees displaced by the fighting that has swept in C?te d'Ivoire. The International Committee of the Red Cross said Friday that had 800 people in the Western cocoa-producing town of Duekoue was shot dead. A UN officials the 330 Friday's death toll.

The violence broke after a controversial election November both Laurent Gbagbo and rival to Alassane Ouattara, who led Presidency. The international community recognised Ouattara as legitimate winner but Gbagbo refused to cede, power and violence has the nation engulfed.

Background on what the cause of the conflict in C?te d'Ivoire.

As the rainy season approaches and fight escalates is the country in which, the Oxfam of this time warning is just, flee for help for refugees in this remote villages.

When the rains come, we will not be able to reach them, because the entire area will become inaccessible.
--Caroline gluck, Oxfam, Liberia

"If the rains come, it will fail, to reach them, because the entire area will become inaccessible,", explains Caroline Gluck, who works for Oxfam in Liberia. "The clock is ticking, people to secure and accessible."

She added that the influx of refugees that doubling is populations of some of the border villages and is a heavy burden on local, little food and facilities themselves have place.

Glug some of which has Ivory Coast, among them Gustave Glawoulou, whose Heimatstadt Blolequin interviewed came under attack by rebels escape. Glug said he fled in the middle of the night with his five children began the shots.

Glawoulou told Gluck he went for four days with his family to reach the Liberian border. To eat everything that you had, things were to find that in the forest. Now, in a border village called Ponah, he says conditions are very hard.

"There are 35 of us living in a house;" If not, we go it rains outside can, but if it rains we remain in crouched on a mat upright sitzen-- there is no place are, "he told Gluck."

"We want to leave this place, because there are too many of us, and from day to day always is it worse," Glawoulou told her. "After two or three months it could get very difficult as people are starting to get sicker because of bad food and shelter."

CNN could not independently verify this account.

Glug explained that many of the refugees in the villages have been border because they are close to their homes, and because they think they will find there and can lead relatively normal lives.

She says that many hate go to Commons if it is of the opinion it no economic opportunities.

The International Committee of the Red Cross works with Ivorian refugees in Liberia. It also warns that the growing number of refugees puts a heavy strain on Liberia host communities and says that it has registered more than 50 refugee children who have been separated from their parents.

Plan international, a children's organization works in Liberia, reported that some young people are completely traumatized by their experiences.

"Along the border of Liberia in Nimba County, I met refugee children, who could not smile and could not play." Also, they were shocked by all the violence, which had seen them, "said Berenger Berehoudougou from the group."

Also, plan says that it mostly women and children across the border from C?te d'Ivoire. "I saw only a few men."I know not what happened to the men and young, said Berehoudougou. "Some young people have told me their brothers and fathers for one of the sides in the conflict in Ivory Coast." But no one seems sure back happen in their home country, "he added."

Glug another of refugees that you had spoken with who was 15-year-old Stephane Ranhou, who arrived in the small border village Janzon, in South Eastern Liberia, with his younger sister Vanessa said. Glug said that they were, become separated from their parents and seven siblings as they fled the fighting in the documentation, and were now fed by local families.

"The villagers have their own problems, but they were very generous open their homes and provide protection for the Flüchtlinge--but there a severe lack of food, shelter and medical care are". Glug said.

View the original article here

Forces hope to use Ivory Coast leader

UN helicopter fire on a controlled by Laurent Gbagbo in Ivory Coast on Monday.Alassane Ouattara forces camp say that they expect to collect Laurent Gbagbo from TuesdayU.N. Peacekeepers are trying to prevent attacks on CiviliansOuattara is internationally recognised winner of presidential elections in C?te d'Ivoire

(CNN) - fighters surrounded the presidential palace of Laurent Gbagbo on Tuesday, hoping to capture the embattled leader.

The fighters, loyal to President Alassane Ouattara, were 80% sure that Gbagbo was still in the residence, said Patrick Achi, a spokesman for Ouattara.

"We do not see why he will not abandon," Achi said Monday, add the new Gbagbo Government by the International Court of Justice have tried search can.

CNN could not independently Achi's claims, which confirm a report included that Gbagbo's TV station was destroyed.

But at least one resident in Abidjan said Gbagbo's Government TV channel since Monday dark had been; early Tuesday, nothing out of the station was transferred.

The man who did not want to use his name, said so many feel insecure and fear shots all over the city like a soundtrack Monday, played.

Uncertainty and fear constant in parts of the Ivory Coast was in recent weeks as screwed a presidential standoff in a civil war has.

The unrest dates back to November when Gbagbo transferred refused power on Ouattara, the International President of the country after elections recognized as.

Supporters of each side are in many cities of the west African country clashed, and have in the past few days the international troops jumped into the fray.

The cause of United Nations to prevent the use of heavy weapons against civilians and United Nations peace-keeping force helicopter to a camp on Monday controlled by Gbagbo, said a spokesman for un.

UN peacekeeping Director Alain Le Roy told reporters of the body takes sides in the conflict, but be after three days of from Gbagbo left four UN peacekeepers seriously injured had.

France also 350 peacekeepers to the country over the weekend and took control of the airport in Abidjan, the French Ministry of Defense said Sunday. The existing UN peacekeeping mission around 7,500 troops joined the new French troops already in the country.

The International Committee of the Red Cross said Friday that had 800 people to death in the Western cocoa-producing town of Duekoue was shot dead. A UN officials the 330 Friday's death toll.

View the original article here

Forces hope to use Ivory Coast leader

UN helicopter fire on a controlled by Laurent Gbagbo in Ivory Coast on Monday.Alassane Ouattara forces camp say that they expect to collect Laurent Gbagbo from TuesdayU.N. Peacekeepers are trying to prevent attacks on CiviliansOuattara is internationally recognised winner of presidential elections in C?te d'Ivoire

(CNN) - fighters surrounded the presidential palace of Laurent Gbagbo on Tuesday, hoping to capture the embattled leader.

The fighters, loyal to President Alassane Ouattara, were 80% sure that Gbagbo was still in the residence, said Patrick Achi, a spokesman for Ouattara.

"We do not see why he will not abandon," Achi said Monday, add the new Gbagbo Government by the International Court of Justice have tried search can.

CNN could not independently Achi's claims, which confirm a report included that Gbagbo's TV station was destroyed.

But at least one resident in Abidjan said Gbagbo's Government TV channel since Monday dark had been; early Tuesday, nothing out of the station was transferred.

The man who did not want to use his name, said so many feel insecure and fear shots all over the city like a soundtrack Monday, played.

Uncertainty and fear constant in parts of the Ivory Coast was in recent weeks as screwed a presidential standoff in a civil war has.

The unrest dates back to November when Gbagbo transferred refused power on Ouattara, the International President of the country after elections recognized as.

Supporters of each side are in many cities of the west African country clashed, and have in the past few days the international troops jumped into the fray.

The cause of United Nations to prevent the use of heavy weapons against civilians and United Nations peace-keeping force helicopter to a camp on Monday controlled by Gbagbo, said a spokesman for un.

UN peacekeeping Director Alain Le Roy told reporters of the body takes sides in the conflict, but be after three days of from Gbagbo left four UN peacekeepers seriously injured had.

France also 350 peacekeepers to the country over the weekend and took control of the airport in Abidjan, the French Ministry of Defense said Sunday. The existing UN peacekeeping mission around 7,500 troops joined the new French troops already in the country.

The International Committee of the Red Cross said Friday that had 800 people to death in the Western cocoa-producing town of Duekoue was shot dead. A UN officials the 330 Friday's death toll.

View the original article here

For Ivory Coast refugees ticking clock

Oxfam says more than 100,000 people crossed refugees are the border of C?te d'Ivoire to Liberia families by fighting on foot for four days that are achieving Liberian border homes in border villages share with more than 30 people, Oxfam says it is the rainy season providing aid to these villages remote jungle pull

(CNN) warn help organizations of an impending humanitarian crisis for tens of thousands of refugees, who arrived after fleeing violence in C?te d'Ivoire and in Liberia.

International aid communications agency Oxfam says more than 100,000 people crossed the border from Ivory Coast villages have to Liberia and lives in a precarious situation in jungle.

The agency according to there are many stories of women separating husbands, arrival in Liberia children of their parents, and some not survive the journey through rivers and forests lost.

The refugees displaced by the fighting that has swept in C?te d'Ivoire. The International Committee of the Red Cross said Friday that had 800 people in the Western cocoa-producing town of Duekoue was shot dead. A UN officials the 330 Friday's death toll.

The violence broke after a controversial election November both Laurent Gbagbo and rival to Alassane Ouattara, who led Presidency. The international community recognised Ouattara as legitimate winner but Gbagbo refused to cede, power and violence has the nation engulfed.

Background on what the cause of the conflict in C?te d'Ivoire.

As the rainy season approaches and fight escalates is the country in which, the Oxfam of this time warning is just, flee for help for refugees in this remote villages.

When the rains come, we will not be able to reach them, because the entire area will become inaccessible.
--Caroline gluck, Oxfam, Liberia

"If the rains come, it will fail, to reach them, because the entire area will become inaccessible,", explains Caroline Gluck, who works for Oxfam in Liberia. "The clock is ticking, people to secure and accessible."

She added that the influx of refugees that doubling is populations of some of the border villages and is a heavy burden on local, little food and facilities themselves have place.

Glug some of which has Ivory Coast, among them Gustave Glawoulou, whose Heimatstadt Blolequin interviewed came under attack by rebels escape. Glug said he fled in the middle of the night with his five children began the shots.

Glawoulou told Gluck he went for four days with his family to reach the Liberian border. To eat everything that you had, things were to find that in the forest. Now, in a border village called Ponah, he says conditions are very hard.

"There are 35 of us living in a house;" If not, we go it rains outside can, but if it rains we remain in crouched on a mat upright sitzen-- there is no place are, "he told Gluck."

"We want to leave this place, because there are too many of us, and from day to day always is it worse," Glawoulou told her. "After two or three months it could get very difficult as people are starting to get sicker because of bad food and shelter."

CNN could not independently verify this account.

Glug explained that many of the refugees in the villages have been border because they are close to their homes, and because they think they will find there and can lead relatively normal lives.

She says that many hate go to Commons if it is of the opinion it no economic opportunities.

The International Committee of the Red Cross works with Ivorian refugees in Liberia. It also warns that the growing number of refugees puts a heavy strain on Liberia host communities and says that it has registered more than 50 refugee children who have been separated from their parents.

Plan international, a children's organization works in Liberia, reported that some young people are completely traumatized by their experiences.

"Along the border of Liberia in Nimba County, I met refugee children, who could not smile and could not play." Also, they were shocked by all the violence, which had seen them, "said Berenger Berehoudougou from the group."

Also, plan says that it mostly women and children across the border from C?te d'Ivoire. "I saw only a few men."I know not what happened to the men and young, said Berehoudougou. "Some young people have told me their brothers and fathers for one of the sides in the conflict in Ivory Coast." But no one seems sure back happen in their home country, "he added."

Glug another of refugees that you had spoken with who was 15-year-old Stephane Ranhou, who arrived in the small border village Janzon, in South Eastern Liberia, with his younger sister Vanessa said. Glug said that they were, become separated from their parents and seven siblings as they fled the fighting in the documentation, and were now fed by local families.

"The villagers have their own problems, but they were very generous open their homes and provide protection for the Flüchtlinge--but there a severe lack of food, shelter and medical care are". Glug said.

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Gbagbo Minister says in talks on Ivory Coast truce - Reuters

DAKAR | Tue Apr 5, 2011 8:49 am EDT

"I'm in the residence of French Ambassador, negotiate a ceasefire," Alcide Djedje said in an interview on Radio France International was aired.

Asked whether Gbagbo of his departure was being negotiated, he said: "this is a further step, I'm not." We have for the coming hours to wait. I had a mandate for negotiating this stage (a ceasefire). "Now we have to wait."

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Ivory Coast battle approaches are crucial stage in key city

After steadfastly refuses, the Presidential Palace despite losing an election four months ago leave - a refusal, the hundreds of dead, international condemnation and sanctions, the financial collapse of what was West of Africa's economic star and a leap back into a civil war - Mr Gbagbo faced the greatest threat to his rule.

Insurgents attacked Mr Gbagbo residence in Abidjan early on Friday, but there were conflicting claims about, was the control of State television.

With enemy troops gave the man of the United Nations, top officials of Alassane Ouattara, the African Union and other international organizations as the winner of the election in November last year recognised abandon him a tight deadline. The head of the African Union, Jean Ping said in a statement on Friday that he regretted Mr Gbagbo rejected the settlement proposals and "hand over power", Mr Outtara urged him immediately.

Apollinaire Yapi, a spokesman for Mr Ouattara, said that fighting between Mr Ouattara troops and Mr Gbagbo held was soldiers to the Presidential Palace, Mr Gbagbo residence and the headquarters of the paramilitary gendarmerie, which has been responsible for many of the attacks on civilians.

"The fighting is sustainable," said Mr Yap, "with all types of weapons," including mortars. He said, it was the whole night on went.

Is "now the question, where is he?" If his residence is defended, can be accepted, he is in, "added Mr Yap."

He said, Mr Ouattara supporters were not surprised that Mr Gbagbo had made not yet, despite the apparent collapse of his forces across the country. "With him which must knife to his throat." He is more afraid of prison as a cause of death. He someone who likes the good life ", said Mr Yap.

Details about the fighting remained uncertain, but urged the Human Rights Office of the United Nations in Geneva, Mr Ouattara restrain his troops for what were described as "unconfirmed reports of very serious human rights violations" by his troops. He also said it had sporadic reports of Pro-Gbagbo forces killed civilians.

French troops in Abidjan, said that it about 500 foreigners, including 150 of their own nationals, a military camp in Ivory Coast, after they were threatened by looters in the main city Abidjan, Reuters reported from Paris. "It is a security vacuum and opened the way for Raider, through the streets," said Thierry Burkhard, a spokesman for the armed forces.

The victims a 30-year-old Swedish woman working for the United Nations was killed by a stray bullet in her home in Abidjan on Thursday night, the Foreign Ministry in Stockholm said Friday.

In the cities in the country, Mr Gbagbo feared security services and soldiers, since four months that violent scourge of civilians in Ouattara supporting neighborhoods were, appeared to surrender with hardly a shot on Thursday, leaving the path wide open for rapid progress all week by forces loyal to Mr Ouattara.

"Today on the outskirts of Abidjan", forces said Mr Ouattara in a televised speech Thursday, attractive for Mr Gbagbo to move pages. "Put you to provide your country", and "again your legal status," he urged, speak in the formal, measured language for which Mr Ouattara, a former Prime Minister and official, is known in the International Monetary Fund.

Mr Ouattara, hotel of Mr Gbagbo blocked for four months in an Abidjan soldiers, due to the rapid change may - Mr Gbagbo increasing vulnerability and his own unexpected rise - the heterogeneous band soldiers referred to he the Republican forces, a mixture of former rebels in an uprising of 2002, which the country split into two leave, and defectors from Mr Gbagbo page.

"they have decided, the restoration of democracy", said Mr Ouattara. "In all the cities that you go through those were young people."

In a few days was critical cities, including the administrative capital of the nation, port of San Pedro, on Mr Ouattara with little battle Yamoussoukro and the most important cocoa-exporting. Resistance said before officials of his Government everything from rented Liberian mercenaries come was.

Already fled Abidjan, who said the United Nations, more than a million people, and on Thursday, residents described the city as tense, quiet and deserted, with periodic bursts of gunshots, explosions and sightings of full of Mr Gbagbo armed militias in circulation downtown pickup trucks. Firing was reported to the State broadcaster, and in the morning, that the the city prison was attacked, and some free 5,000 prisoners.

Mr Gbagbo teen armed supporters, the young patriots, a well-deserved reputation for violence, operated roadblocks and roamed Abidjan.

Alan Cowell contributed reporting from Paris.

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