BIDJAN: Ivory Coast's Laurent Gbagbo will lift a siege on his presidential rival if former rebels protecting him go, a minister said Wednesday, insisting an amnesty for the embattled leader was not on the cards. Foreign Minister Alcide Djedje said that strongman Gbagbo, who most of the world says lost November's presidential run-off but has refused to relinquish power, would not go into exile despite offers aimed at ending the crisis. “It was a question of the New Forces soldiers leaving the hotel, a condition for lifting the blockade,” Djedje told journalists, denying Gbagbo had said he would lift the siege as reported by African mediators. Gbagbo's Security and Defense Forces (FDS) have barred access to the Golf Hotel where the internationally recognized election victor, Alassane Ouattara, and his camp have been besieged since shortly after the Nov. 28 poll. The hotel has been protected by around 800 UN peacekeepers as well as the ex-rebel New Forces allied with Ouattara's camp since troops shot dead several of his supporters as they marched on state television on Dec. 16. “The Ivorian army feels it can not tolerate that 300 heavily armed soldiers from the former rebellion should be in the hotel. That is a threat including for president Gbagbo whose residence is five minutes away by boat.” – Agence France
