News / Africa
Gbagbo's forces bombard Ouattara's HQ
11 Apr 2011 at 05:14hrs | Views
Forces loyal to Ivory Coast incumbent leader Laurent Gbagbo have stepped up a counter-attack on presidential claimant Alassane Ouattara by firing on his hotel headquarters in Abidjan.
Rebel forces seeking to install Ouattara, who won an election in November according to results certified by the United Nations, swept from the north into the economic capital almost unopposed more than a week ago.
But, despite a fierce rebel onslaught, Gbagbo's soldiers have held onto parts of the city, and are now growing bolder.
The US State Department condemned the attack on Ouattara's hotel at the weekend and said Gbagbo's attempts at negotiation last week were nothing more than a ruse to regroup and re-arm.
"Gbagbo's continued attempt to force a result that he could not obtain at the ballot box reveals his callous disregard for the welfare of the Ivorian people, who will again suffer as a result of renewed heavy fighting in Abidjan," the State Department said.
A UN spokesman in Abidjan said Saturday's attack on the Golf Hotel, Ouattara's base since the election, involved heavy weapons that appeared to have been fired from Gbagbo's residence.
"This was not a fight, but a direct attack by Gbagbo's forces, who fired RPGs and mortar rounds, from positions near Gbagbo's residence, at the Golf Hotel," said UN spokesman Hamadoun Toure.
He said one UN peacekeeper had been hurt and that UN forces had responded by firing on those positions.
Gbagbo's spokesman, Ahoua Don Mello, denied Gbagbo's forces had attacked Ouattara's headquarters.
He said the incumbent president was calling on his supporters to resist French forces.
"President Gbagbo called for resistance against the bombing and the actions of the French army in Ivory Coast because, ultimately, it is the French army that attacked us," Don Mello said.
Mariam Konate, a resident of the area near the hotel, said: "There was fierce fighting with heavy weapons and our houses shook - some windows shattered. We're locked in our homes, but things 'have] calmed down."
Lydie Boka, an analyst at StrategiCo consultancy, said pro-Gbagbo forces seemed determined to strike fast, a sign they wanted to gain momentum before more troops desert, or that they might be desperate.
Rebel forces seeking to install Ouattara, who won an election in November according to results certified by the United Nations, swept from the north into the economic capital almost unopposed more than a week ago.
But, despite a fierce rebel onslaught, Gbagbo's soldiers have held onto parts of the city, and are now growing bolder.
The US State Department condemned the attack on Ouattara's hotel at the weekend and said Gbagbo's attempts at negotiation last week were nothing more than a ruse to regroup and re-arm.
"Gbagbo's continued attempt to force a result that he could not obtain at the ballot box reveals his callous disregard for the welfare of the Ivorian people, who will again suffer as a result of renewed heavy fighting in Abidjan," the State Department said.
A UN spokesman in Abidjan said Saturday's attack on the Golf Hotel, Ouattara's base since the election, involved heavy weapons that appeared to have been fired from Gbagbo's residence.
"This was not a fight, but a direct attack by Gbagbo's forces, who fired RPGs and mortar rounds, from positions near Gbagbo's residence, at the Golf Hotel," said UN spokesman Hamadoun Toure.
He said one UN peacekeeper had been hurt and that UN forces had responded by firing on those positions.
Gbagbo's spokesman, Ahoua Don Mello, denied Gbagbo's forces had attacked Ouattara's headquarters.
He said the incumbent president was calling on his supporters to resist French forces.
"President Gbagbo called for resistance against the bombing and the actions of the French army in Ivory Coast because, ultimately, it is the French army that attacked us," Don Mello said.
Mariam Konate, a resident of the area near the hotel, said: "There was fierce fighting with heavy weapons and our houses shook - some windows shattered. We're locked in our homes, but things 'have] calmed down."
Lydie Boka, an analyst at StrategiCo consultancy, said pro-Gbagbo forces seemed determined to strike fast, a sign they wanted to gain momentum before more troops desert, or that they might be desperate.
Source - AFP
