IVORY COAST: French troops evacuate their nationals and help other civilians to safety as heavy shootings flare up

Record ID: 181802

  • Title: IVORY COAST: French troops evacuate their nationals and help other civilians to safety as heavy shootings flare up
  • Date: 11th April 2011
  • Summary: FRENCH SOLDIERS LOOKING THROUGH BINOCULARS FRENCH WOMAN BEING EVACUATED CLIMBING INTO FRENCH MILITARY TRUCK FRENCH SOLDIER IN TANK LOOKING AT THE ROAD VARIOUS OF WOMEN COMING BACK FROM THE MARKET
  • Embargoed: 26th April 2011 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Cote d'Ivoire
  • Country: Ivory Coast
  • Topics: War / Fighting,International Relations
  • Reuters ID: LVA89QFM32D2Z7EKTW8K714LMZLS
  • Story Text: French forces in Abidjan moved to help foreigners to safety on Sunday (April 10) as heavy fighting broke out between forces loyal to incumbent Laurent Gbagbo and those of his rival Alassane Ouattara.
    The St. Mary's hospital was caught in the crossfire as soldiers battled it out for the control of the city, with rocket propelled grenades and automatic fire.
    The number of people who lost their lives in the heavy shelling over the last week is unknown, and the beautiful city of Abidjan, dubbed "the Paris of West Africa", looks like a war zone.
    French and UN helicopters attacked heavy weapons belonging to troops loyal to Ivory Coast's incumbent president Laurent Gbagbo also on Sunday (April 10), the UN mission's spokesman said.
    A Reuters correspondent at the French military base near the airport, about 15 kilometres from Gbagbo's residence, said he could hear loud explosions coming from the direction of the fighting. He said four helicopters, two UN and two French helicopters were carrying out operations.
    A resident of Cocody neighbourhood where the Gbagbo's residence is situated said he could see thick black smoke coming from the residence.
    Forces loyal Gbagbo stepped up a counter-attack on presidential claimant Alassane Ouattara by firing on his hotel headquarters in Abidjan on Saturday (April 9). The hotel is guarded by UN forces.
    Lawyers for Ouattara in a letter to the French government and the international community on Sunday, asked French and UN forces to eliminate Gbagbo's heavy weapons and militia and bring him to justice.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
  • Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2011. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
  • Usage Terms/Restrictions: None
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