- Title: IVORY COAST: Gunfire rattles through Abidjan streets
- Date: 2nd April 2011
- Summary: ABIDJAN, IVORY COAST (APRIL 1, 2011) (REUTERS) AUDIO OF GUNFIRE AND WOMAN RUNNING IN THE STREET EMPTY STREET AND SOUND OF GUNFIRE VARIOUS OF ROOFTOPS AND SOUND OF GUNFIRE BIRDS FLYING HELICOPTER BIRDS AND SOUND OF GUNFIRE MORE OF ROOFTOPS STREET AND SOUND OF GUNFIRE
- Embargoed: 17th April 2011 13:00
- Keywords:
- Location: Cote d'Ivoire
- Country: Ivory Coast
- Topics: War / Fighting,Domestic Politics
- Reuters ID: LVA6NQTJDCZM01WAE0EDFF8TU9IV
- Story Text: Gunfire echoed in the streets of the Ivory Coast's main city of Abidjan on Friday (April 1) as fighters loyal to presidential claimant Alassane Ouattara attacked the residence of incumbent Laurent Gbagbo and seized control of state television, a Ouattara spokesman said.
A military source in Gbagbo's camp confirmed the attack overnight on Gbagbo's residence but said that pro-Gbagbo forces were still putting up resistance at state broadcaster, RTI.
Residents in the area confirmed heavy fighting.
Loyalists of the internationally recognised president entered the city on Thursday (March 31) after a swift offensive south aimed at ousting Gbagbo, who has refused to cede power since a Nov. 28 election that U.N.-certified results showed he lost.
Fighting between the rival factions raged for hours on Thursday and heavy weapons fire rang out in the centre of the commercial capital of the world's top cocoa producer.
Ouattara spokesman Patrick Achi told Reuters by phone, fighting was still going on all around Gbagbo's residence but that he didn't know if Gbagbo was still inside. He said overnight that Gbagbo was there and looked like fighting on.
Gbagbo has refused to cede power to Ouattara since a Nov. 28 election that U.N.-certified results showed he lost. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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