Official: Fighting continues at home of Laurent Gbagbo

CNN.com
(http://edition.cnn.com/2011/WORLD/africa/04/07/ivory.coast.unrest/index.html?eref=edition)

By the CNN Wire Staff

April 7, 2011 -- Updated 1151 GMT (1951 HKT)

(CNN) -- The sounds of a fierce gun battle rang out early Thursday from the home of Laurent Gbagbo in Abidjan as the bloody fight to determine who would be the president of Ivory Coast continued, a Red Cross official said.

"We could hear it all night," said Kelnor Panglungtshang, a spokesman for the International Committee of the Red Cross. "There were small gunfire and even what sounded like rocket-propelled grenades coming from the residence. It is clear that the area is far from being secure."

Ivory Coast is in the midst of a bloody power struggle between its elected President Alassane Ouattara and Gbagbo, the man who has refused to concede.

Forces loyal to Ouattara stormed Gbagbo's home Wednesday, officials from both sides said. Outtara's forces said they have not captured Gbagbo.

Gbagbo was in the basement of his home "conducting business" and has given no indication of surrendering, said Abdon Bayeto, adviser to the embattled leader.

Many African countries are offering Gbagbo a "safe retreat" from the Ivory Coast, Noureddine Mezni, a spokesman for the African Union, said Thursday. But the spokesman would not detail which countries are making the offer.

Hundreds of people have been killed in the cocoa-producing country since Gbagbo rejected the results of an election in November. The United Nations and African Union have said Ouattara, a former prime minister, defeated Gbagbo, who was running for re-election.

The humanitarian situation is worsening, the Red Cross said. A Red Cross-chartered aircraft landed Wednesday in the northern town of Man, carrying nearly 12 tons of supplies for people hit by the warfare.

And as the fighting continued Thursday citizens were desperately calling for help, the Red Cross said.

"The phone calls... they do not stop," said Panglungtshang. "We have people calling about shrapnel landing on their homes or on their neighbor's home or people that are wounded. These are civilians. We are hearing from people who have diabetes and cannot get insulin who are close to losing consciousness. It is just desperate. Desperate."

CNN's Joyce Joseph contributed to this report

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