Cote d'Ivoire's incumbent Gbagbo says not to leave office
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Cote d'Ivoire's incumbent president Laurent Gbagbo said he would not leave his office despite the siege laid to the presidential residence in Abidjan by forces supporting his rival Alassane Ouattara, CNN reported on Friday.
Meanwhile, Gbagbo's representative said in Paris that Gbagbo has no intention of handing over power to rebels supporting Ouattara, who in his words launched the "post-election coup" to force him out.
Gbagbo's residence is being attacked by Ouattara's Republican Forces, which reached Abidjan on Thursday after days of swift advances.
Local residents witnessed smoke pillowing from Gbagbo's last fort amid explosions on Friday morning following overnight gunfire.
Ouattara is internationally recognized as the winner of the Nov. 28 presidential election, while Gbagbo has repeatedly rejected calls for ceding power to his rival, triggering another all-out armed conflict since the 2002-2003 civil war.
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