IVORY COAST: Abidjan quiet first thing in the morning after day of raging battles between forces loyal to presidential rivals

Record ID: 181889

  • Title: IVORY COAST: Abidjan quiet first thing in the morning after day of raging battles between forces loyal to presidential rivals
  • Date: 4th April 2011
  • Summary: ABIDJAN, IVORY COAST (APRIL 3, 2011) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF SUNRISE OVER THE LAGOON, WITH BRIDGE SEEN BUILDINGS IN CITY CENTRE WITH BIRDS SCATTERING FROM TREES OVER SOUND OF GUNFIRE MORE OF BIRDS VARIOUS OF EMPTY STREETS WITH WOMEN WALKING ON STREET WITH BUCKETS LOOKING FOR WATER WOMAN WITH A BIG WATER CONTAINER ON HER HEAD VARIOUS OF MORE OF WOMEN WALKING ON STREET WITH BUCKETS PRO-GBAGBO FORCES IN BOAT PATROLLING ON THE RIVER
  • Embargoed: 19th April 2011 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Cote d'Ivoire
  • Country: Ivory Coast
  • Topics: War / Fighting,Domestic Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVA1TDSSPCK1QGPMGPWCDPC8ZDTB
  • Story Text: There was an eerie silence hanging over the Ivory Coast main city of Abidjan on Sunday (April 3) after a day of fighting and reports of a brutal massacre to the west of the country.
    Soldiers from rival leaders Laurent Gbagbo and Alassane Ouattara battled on Saturday (April 2) for the presidential palace, military bases and state TV in Abidjan.
    It began as Ouattra's soldiers advanced to try and take the city. They were met with stiff resistance from fighters remaining loyal Gbagbo, who has refused to step down.
    Both men believe they have won the November 28 elections.
    There are also reports that up to 800 people were killed in intercommunal violence in the western town of Duekoue.
    The U.S. and Britain have called on Gbagbo to step down immediately.
    U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has also urged the UN peacekeeping mission to enforce its mandate to protect civilians more aggressively after it was reported that they have a base near Duekoue.
  • 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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