Ivory Coast leader ‘close to quitting’

Alain Juppe said yesterday he believed Gbagbo’s departure was near.

Officials have said Gbagbo is holed up in a bunker at his home in Abidjan and is exploring different options for his surrender after forces backing the country’s democratically elected leader, Alassane Ouattara, seized the residence.

Forces aiming to topple Gbagbo took nearly the entire country in just three days last week, but they faltered once they reached Abidjan, where the presidential palace and residence are located.

Then United Nations and French forces opened fire with attack helicopters yesterday on Gbagbo’s arsenal, as columns of foot soldiers allied with his challenger finally pierced the city boundaries.

A spokesman for Gbagbo said his home had been hit at least 50 times by a United Nations Mi-24 helicopter.

A senior diplomat said that Gbagbo’s closest adviser and long-time friend had abandoned him, leaving the bunker to seek refuge.

Alcide Djedje, who co-founded Gbagbo’s political party and accompanied him to jail decades ago, sought refuge at the French ambassador’s residence, the diplomat claimed.

But a Paris-based lawyer who has represented Gbagbo’s government later denied the claims.

“He has absolutely not resigned and is currently being scandalously held against his will” in the embassy, attorney Lucie Bourthoumieux said.

A a spokesman for the UN mission in Ivory Coast, Hamadoun Toure said: “One might think that we are getting to the end of the crisis.

“We spoke to his close aides, some had already defected, some are ready to stop fighting. He is alone now, he is in his bunker with a handful of supporters.”