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Gbagbo Forces Regain Ground

Reports of his pending surrender greatly exaggerated

By Polly Davis Doig, Newser Staff

Posted Apr 9, 2011 12:59 PM CDT

(Newser) – Laurent Gbagbo, supposedly all but defeated, is surging, with forces loyal to him retaking control of two districts in Abidjan. "They clearly used the lull of Tuesday (for peace talks) as a trick to reinforce their position," a UN official says. Further, Alassane Outtara's fighters may have exaggerated their claims of having Gbagbo surrounded, notes the BBC. State-run television broadcast a message saying, "The regime of Gbagbo is still in place, a strong mobilization is required by the population."

The French embassy suffered heavy weapons fire today, which it blamed on Gbagbo. Gbagbo forces, in turn, denied responsibility, saying, "France is just looking for a pretext to get rid of President Laurent Gbagbo." "Gbagbo's days of influence are clearly numbered but the fighting continues," writes the BBC correspondent on the ground.

Men detained for unknown reasons by soldiers loyal to Alassane Ouattara are brought for questioning to a republican forces operating base on the outskirts of Abidjan, Ivory Coast, Saturday, April 9, 2011. (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell)

Pro-Gbagbo protestors attend a demonstration to condemn French military action in Ivory Coast Saturday April 9, 2011. (AP Photo/Remy de la Mauviniere)

Pro-Gbagbo protesters attend a demonstration to condemn French military action in Ivory Coast Saturday April 9, 2011. (AP Photo/Remy de la Mauviniere)

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COMMENTS

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Showing 3 of 7 comments

Non-deep-thinker

Apr 10, 2011 1:03 PM CDT

What's stopping them from just dropping a bunker buster on the Great Gagsby?

yoeydude

Apr 9, 2011 3:50 PM CDT

this is coming to our shores ,.... when the tidal wave of coming votes wipes the slimy repug from every office in the land , they wont get it , they will say there is a mistake , and they wont leave office , and a clarion call will go out on the townhall site and the worldnetdaily site for angry repugs to get their guns and gather together, cause its time for those second amendment solutions ,........ scumbags think alike

DontLikeYou

Apr 9, 2011 3:12 PM CDT

Laurent Gbagbo,-- Christian Alassane Outtara -- Muslim Both claimed the other side committed voter fraud, but the UN ignored Gbago's claims and took sides with the Muslim, Outtara. Personally, I'm pulling for Gbagbo because I think this is an internal matter and I think the UN should not be using military force in any country.

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Gbagbo Forces Regain Ground

Reports of his pending surrender greatly exaggerated

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Ivory Coast • Abidjan • Laurent Gbagbo • Alassane Ouattara

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Defiant Gbagbo Holed Up in Tunnel

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