U.N. and French helicopters fired rockets on the presidential residence where incumbent
strongman Laurent Gbagbo is holed-up. French and UN forces conducted operations on
Monday in which they directly attacked the presidential compound in Abidjan. The strikes
are in response to Gbagbo loyalist attacks on U.N. personnel, foreign diplomatic missions
and civilians.
The spokesman for the UN mission in the Ivory Coast, Hamadoun
Touré says Gbagbo’s use of heavy weapons had created an intolerable situation for
the non-combatant population in the city
After a decade in power, Gbagbo lost
an election to his rival, the internationally-recognized president-elect, Alassane
Ouattars, following which he refused to leave power. After months of stalemate, Pro-Ouattara
forces began an offensive late last month to install him in power, sweeping across
the country in just days before meeting resistance in Abidjan.