Pro-Ouattara Forces Enter Ivory Coast Capital
VOA News March 30, 2011
Forces opposed to incumbent Ivory Coast president Laurent Gbagbo have entered the country's official capital of Yamoussoukro, though Gbagbo forces still control the main seat of power in Abidjan.
A spokeswoman for the New Forces rebels, who support Gbagbo's presidential rival Alassane Ouattara, tells VOA's French to Africa Service that fighters entered Yamoussoukro Wednesday, after making major advances across Ivory Coast.
It was not immediately clear whether pro-Ouattara forces are in control of the city. Residents say they have not seen any pro-Gbagbo security forces for at least several hours.
Pro-Ouattara forces have seized several other towns in west, central and eastern Ivory Coast since launching an offensive on Monday. Earlier, the New Forces spokeswoman, Afoussi Bamba, said pro-Ouattara fighters now control almost 75 percent of the country.
A spokesman for Gbagbo, Don Mello, has called for a cease-fire and the opening of dialogue. But Ouattara's government said all "peaceful avenues" for Gbagbo to admit his election defeat are exhausted.
Gbagbo refused to relinquish power after Ouattara was named the winner of last November's presidential election. The United Nations, African Union, and other international bodies have insisted he must step down.
Late Tuesday, the Gbagbo government called on members of the president's youth movement to enroll in the army.
The United Nations says at least 472 people have been killed since the political crisis began in early December. It says up to a million people have been displaced, with thousands fleeing west to Liberia or east to Ghana.
The disputed election was meant to reunite Ivory Coast, nearly a decade after a brief civil war left it split into rebel-controlled north and government-controlled south.
Efforts by the African Union to resolve the post-election crisis peacefully have so far failed.
Some information for this report was provided by AP, AFP and Reuters.
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