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French forces take over Abidjan airport
Fighting continues between Mr Gbagbo's troops and supporters of his rival, UN-recognised President Alassane Ouattara. The city's pro-Gbagbo TV station called for people to mobilise against the French '"occupation". Mr Ouattara's forces are reported to be planning a further advance towards the presidential palace and have imposed a curfew on the city. UN spokesman Hamadoun Toure told the BBC he had heard gunfire near the palace, adding that the situation was very tense. France has sent an extra 300 soldiers to Ivory Coast, defence ministry spokesman Thierry Burkhard said, taking the total French force to about 1,400. The airport had been secured by UN troops since Friday, but the French move meant the airport was now able to re-open, Mr Burkhard told the BBC. The aim of the reinforcement was "to take control over the airport which was also done in co-ordination with the UN mission, to allow the re-opening of this airport to civilian airlines and military flights", he said. Mr Burkhard added that the force's mission remained primarily the protection of French nationals, who were being threatened by looters. "We are currently experiencing in Abidjan a security vacuum because the Ivorian security forces, which until now followed the orders of Mr Gbagbo, answered in great numbers the rallying call made by President Ouattara," he said. There were no immediate plans to start evacuating foreigners, he said, though about 1,600 were sheltering in a French army camp. They include about 700 French nationals, some 600 Lebanese citizens and 60 Europeans of assorted nationalities, French media report. Posted by: Steve White 2011-04-03 |
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