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U.S. official: Offer to Gbagbo to come to U.S. 'rapidly closing'
(CNN) -- A senior administration official says an offer for self-declared Ivory Coast President Laurent Gbagbo to step down and come to the United States still is open but Gbagbo is "digging in."Well, that'll save some time...later. The official, who spoke on background because of the diplomatic sensitivity of the issue, said "If President Gbagbo is looking for a dignified exit we remain open to help him with that, but there's no indication that he's prepared to leave at this point." The official said Gbagbo, who was defeated in an election but refuses to cede power, has ignored efforts by the U.S. to communicate. "He has declined to see our ambassador," the official said, "He has declined to accept phone calls. But we have provided written communication. He is aware." Gbagbo, he said, owns a number of properties both in the region and elsewhere "so he's got no shortage of possible destinations." Posted by: Fred 2011-01-04 |
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