IVORY COAST: Mortar attack takes place on French embassy and ambassador's residence in Abidjan
Record ID:
181944
IVORY COAST: Mortar attack takes place on French embassy and ambassador's residence in Abidjan
- Title: IVORY COAST: Mortar attack takes place on French embassy and ambassador's residence in Abidjan
- Date: 10th April 2011
- Summary: ABIDJAN, IVORY COAST (APRIL 09, 2011) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF FRENCH TANKS PREPARING TO LEAVE BASE VARIOUS OF JOURNALISTS FILMING LICORNE SPOKESPERSON COMMANDER FREDERIC DAGUILLON (SOUNDBITE) (French) LICORNE SPOKESPERSON, COMMANDER FREDERIC DAGUILLON SAYING: "Yesterday afternoon at 1600 hours, the French Ambassador's residence was attacked. Mortar shells fell on the residency of the French Embassy as well as RPG7 rocket fire from a position held by members of forces favourable to Laurengy Gbagbo. In response to this threat, at 20:07, helicopters took off for a reconnaissance mission around the residency of the French Embassy in order to preempt and gather information on any other attempted attacks (on the residency)." CLOSE UP OF JOURNALIST (SOUNDBITE) (French) LICORNE SPOKESPERSON, COMMANDER FREDERIC DAGUILLON SAYING: "French helicopters opened fire in self-defence according to French law and destroyed an armoured vehicle at 01:40 precisely." VARIOUS OF LICORNE TANKS IN BASE
- Embargoed: 25th April 2011 13:00
- Keywords:
- Location: Cote d'Ivoire
- Country: Ivory Coast
- Topics: War / Fighting
- Reuters ID: LVABNZWV4L0ZDPIL50998SPD9Z6Y
- Story Text: France's military mission in Ivory Coast (LICORNE) on Saturday (April 9) reported an attack on the French embassy and the ambassador's residence in Abidjan, on Friday (April 8).
"Yesterday afternoon at 1600 hours, French ambassador's residence was attacked. Mortar shells fell on the residency of the French embassy as well as RPG7 rocket fire from a position held by members of forces favourable to Laurengy Gbagbo. In response to this threat, at 20:07, helicopters took off for a reconnaissance mission around the residency of the French Embassy in order to preempt and gather information on any other attempted attacks (on the residency)."
No damage was caused by the attack which was denied by Gbagbo advisor Toussaint Alain.
There has been intense fighting in the commercial capital between supporters of Laurent Gbagbo who is refusing to accept certified UN election results and those of declared winner, Alassane Ouattara.
France has taken a leading role in talks to persuade Gbagbo to hand himself over to Ouattara forces and end a standoff at the presidential palace.
"French helicopters opened fire in self-defence according to French law and destroyed an armoured vehicle at 01:40 precisely," added Daguillon.
French helicopters also struck Gbagbo's compound in the early evening.
Forces loyal to Laurent Gbagbo, besieged in his Abidjan residence, have retaken ground and are edging closer to where rival presidential claimant Alassane Ouattara is holed up, according to the United Nations. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
- Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2011. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
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