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.

View the original article here

Viewing profile: Côte d ' Ivoire Laurent Gbagbo - BBC News

1. April 2011 last updated at 11: 00 GMT Laurent Gbagbo is a classically trained academic turned opposition leader, now seen as just another African leader of his country by the refusal, to destroy defeat at the ballot box.

After 20 years in the opposition he came to power in 2000, as a military leader Robert GUEI manipulate attempts to elections were defeated by street protests by Mr Gbagbo supporters in the main city Abidjan.

Now, he is accused of firing on unarmed demonstrators in Abidjan that a clinging to power after an election dispute and security forces loyal to him.

Mr Gbagbo his political teeth in the trade union movement and he figure, former President Félix Houphou?t-Boigny plays heavily on his reputation as the main opposition party's a party State.

He started on the political left, but since the 1980s he has a strong nationalist, even xenophobic attitude.

'Change your glasses'

Mr Gbagbo says the dispute is about a fight for C?te d'Ivoire (and indeed African) sovereignty and throws the French and Americans in him.

Ivory Coast is the nation of God blessed and neo colonialists want to control it for its cocoa and oil fields, he says.

Continue reading the most important story 1971: arrested for "subversive doctrine"1982: exile in Paris after union activism1988: is, C?te d ' Ivoire 1990: defeated in elections1992: after student protests in the prison2000: declared winner of disputed election2002: failed coup divides C?te d ' Ivoire2007: Is a power-sharing Government with former rebels2010: elections five years later. Refuses to go, after he LostHowever, this trick says UN has not succeeded and the UN supported made determination of the African Union, that Mr Gbagbo lost the election of November 2010 and it should be down.

He was surfing on the wave of xenophobia accused the Ivory Coast swept during the reign of President Henri Konan Bédié.

Mr. Bédié led to prevent the concept of "ivoirité" (Ivorianness), Alassane Ouattara, a Muslim from the North by standing in the presidential election in the 1990's.

Mr Gbagbo denied aroused accusations of opportunism. He said "I have not changed," at the time. "You need to change your glasses."

It looks now like Mr Ouattara, which might UN-recognised winner of the November elections, the last laugh as his troops on the Presidential Palace in Abidjan in close.

Since the 2002 outbreak of civil war, have Mr Gbagbo supporters have been accused implementation xenophobic attacks in the areas that control it - against those from the predominantly Muslim north, immigrants from neighboring African countries and inhabitants of the West.

She accused former colonial power France and the international community to do enough, to put down the rebellion.

"Cicero"

Laurent Gbagbo was born in a Catholic family in the vicinity of Gagnoa, in the Middle West of the country, producing cocoa almost 60 years ago.

"Cicero", has a PhD in the history as he was due to his love of Latin during his school days.

Some say Mr Gbagbo wife Simone, the real power behind the throne

Early in his career as a Professor, Mr Gbagbo was arrested in 1971 for two years for "subversive" doctrine. "Little brother" was his nom de guerre.

In the 1980s, he was involved in Union activities among academics.

He was one of the first challenge of C?te d'Ivoire is President Houphou?t-Boigny allowed creation in the 1980s, as the veteran independence leader multi-party system.

In 1982 he wanted to return six years later exile in Paris, the Ivorian Popular Front (FPI) at the founding Congress.

His time as a leader of the opposition led to spells in jail and brushes with the authorities.

His wife, Simone, is a powerful politician in his own right and some see them as the real hardline makes behind the throne, prevent to give up making her husband.

The couple has two daughters.

"Good Company"

Mr Gbagbo said after his election in 2000, break he would with the personality cult tradition, say that it was no longer necessary, portraits of the President in public places and offices put up.

He also said that the national media is no longer required, mention of the President in all programmes would be.

But while he was in power, you mark the most news of Mr Gbagbo to daily activities.

He has a reputation as a aufbrausender, in particular against "arrogant" journalists, but he is also known for his infectious laugh and vigorous handshakes.

Person he has a big smile and an easy laugh and is a Communicator, often using the metaphors of Ivorian daily life.

He should have a passion for music, guitar, and good food.

"It is a pleasure to him dinner round have to," one of his friends in Jeune Afrique-L was ' intelligent magazine quoted.

Still, the man who under the motto "we win or we win", where he can be a stubborn political players and, opponents claim, links to violent militias such as the Student Union, the Fesci, the young patriots and death squads, despite his reputation as a Socialist peaceful, Sorbonne-trained.

The UN blames its militias for the worst violence against civilians.

He has also the nickname of "Baker" for his ability to "roll his opponents in the flour", after he a uncanny knack which come up in any political dispute.

But he can now his match met.

View the original article here