ABIDJAN: Ivory Coast strongman Laurent Gbagbo's forces repulsed an offensive by his rival Alassane Ouattara on the presidential palace and his home in Abidjan, his spokesman Ahoua Don Mello said Friday. “The offensive on the presidential palace was pushed back, the offensive on the radio station was pushed back,” Don Mello said, adding that an offensive against RTI state television had also failed. “Finally, an attempt to seize the residence was a total failure,” he said, referring to Gbagbo's home in the northern suburb of Cocody. No other information could be immediately obtained, but a diplomat said “the frontlines did not change on Friday” after fierce battles between Gbagbo forces and troops loyal to internationally recognized president Alassane Ouattara. Denying rumors Gbagbo had fled the county, Don Mello said: “He is at home, obviously, with his wife and the whole family. He is better accepted in Ivory Coast than elsewhere.” “He was elected by Ivorians and the other by the international community,” he said referring to Ouattara, whose forces have waged an attack on Abidjan since Thursday night. “He is in a responsible mood,” said Don Mello, reiterating that any solution using force was “a dead end”. The United States Friday urged UN and French forces in the Ivory Coast to “take all possible steps” to protect civilians and prevent any looting. Ouattara's forces battled Gbagbo loyalists near Gbagbo's Abidjan residence earlier Friday after seizing control of state television overnight. The main city in the world's top cocoa grower has turned into a war-zone since forces loyal to the internationally recognized president marched in Thursday after a swift push south aimed at ousting Gbagbo, who has refused to quit since a Nov. 28 election that UN-certified results said he lost. The African Union called on Gbagbo to hand over power immediately. Hundreds of foreigners were taken to a French military camp for their protection after they were threatened by looters. Rights and aid groups have warned of appalling conditions. — Agencies The United Nations also called on Ouattara to rein in his forces, citing what it said were unconfirmed reports they had abducted and mistreated civilians. “We can hear shooting and see soldiers moving but there are also armed civilians running in the streets,” said Camara Arnold, a resident in Cocody, the leafy neighborhood that is home to the state television building and Gbagbo's residence. The power struggle had pushed cocoa prices higher, but they have tumbled on Ouattara's push on expectations that exports will be freed up. Ivory Coast's $2.3 billion 2032 bond, on which it defaulted in January, extended gains on Friday, rising almost 1.5 points on hopes of an end to the conflict. “Fighting is still going on all around Gbagbo's residence,” Ouattara spokesman Patrick Achi told Reuters, hours after he said pro-Ouattara forces attacked. Achi said he didn't know if Gbagbo was still inside but overnight he said Gbagbo was there and looked like fighting on. Gbagbo's camp in Abidjan was not available for comment but Alain Toussaint, a Paris-based adviser of Gbagbo's, said he would not give up. “He will not surrender. It is out of the question,” he added.
