Forces loyal to Alassane Ouattara, the internationally recognized winner of Ivory Coast's presidential election, are storming the residence where Laurent Gbagbo, the incumbent who refuses to relinquish power, is holed up in the city of Abidjan.
Gbagbo's supporters accused the pro-Ouattara forces and French forces in the former French colony of staging an "assassination attempt," but a Ouattara spokesman said the forces were given orders not to kill Gbagbo, who is believed to be hiding in a bunker.
The United States and France on April 5 said Gbagbo was negotiating his exit from power, but in an interview with a French broadcaster today Gbagbo said he had no intention of surrendering power and would not recognize Ouattara as the winner of the November election.
The fighting has left more than 1,500 people dead in the West African country.
compiled from agency reports
Gbagbo's supporters accused the pro-Ouattara forces and French forces in the former French colony of staging an "assassination attempt," but a Ouattara spokesman said the forces were given orders not to kill Gbagbo, who is believed to be hiding in a bunker.
The United States and France on April 5 said Gbagbo was negotiating his exit from power, but in an interview with a French broadcaster today Gbagbo said he had no intention of surrendering power and would not recognize Ouattara as the winner of the November election.
The fighting has left more than 1,500 people dead in the West African country.
compiled from agency reports