Intense battle is going on in Abidjan

Heavy fighting is underway near the residence of the current head of Côte d'Ivoire, Laurent Gbagbo, in Abidjan. artillery between his supporters and the forces of the elected and internationally recognized President Alassane Ouattara. The presidential palace, located in a prestigious area in the north of the country's economic capital, is being shot at from five points simultaneously.

After it became known that the armed forces of the opposition leader Alassane Ouattara surrounded the city and were preparing to take it, the supporters of Laurent Gbagbo began to build barricades of automobile tires and cars on the streets of Abidjan. Most of the inhabitants of the four million metropolis have been leaving their homes for almost a day, fearing to go out because of a surge in violence and crime.

Last Thursday, opposition authorities announced the introduction of a curfew in the city from 21: 00 to 06: 00 local time. In addition, they also issued an order to close, “until subsequent orders,” the air, sea and land borders of Côte d'Ivoire. On Friday, April 1, the government television company RTI stopped working in the country. As it became known, the Abidjan headquarters of the faithful Gbagbo channel was seized by opposition forces.

On Thursday, before the attack of the armed units of Ouattara, the head of his government, Guillaume Soro, said: "Gbagbo must leave his post to 19: 00 to avoid a bloody massacre in the city. Otherwise we will go in search of him." However, he noted that Gbagbo should be transferred into the hands of international justice.

The confrontation in the country began last fall, when the current head of state, Laurent Gbagbo, lost the presidential election, but he managed to enlist the support of the military and stay at his post. Opposition leader, Alassane Ouattara, who won the election, decided not to surrender without a fight. To help him came those who voted for him, and some army units. Since then, the country did not stop fighting, the top managed to win Ouattara. Now the troops loyal to him control already three-quarters of the country, the opposition forces closed the air, sea and land borders of Côte d'Ivoire. In the camp of the opposition they say that Lobran Gbagbo is left to rule in a matter of hours.

Last Wednesday, the UN Security Council adopted a resolution on Côte d'Ivoire. The document, approved by all members of the Council, calls on Laurent Gbagbo to abandon presidential ambitions and give way to Alassane Ouattare. Previously, the latter was recognized by the European Union, the United States and the Economic Community of West African countries as elected president. Since the beginning of the armed conflict in this country, at least 460 people have died, more than a million people have become refugees, ITAR-TASS recalls.