On air at 1100GMT: Ivory Coast - How long can Gbagbo refuse to surrender?
| 09:54 UK time, Wednesday, 6 April 2011
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This topic was discussed on World Have Your Say on 6 April 2011. Listen to the programme.
UPDATE: The French government says that Laurent Gbagbo is refusing to surrender, according to the AFP news agency. There are also reports of heavy gunfire around the Presidential compund.
His residence is surrounded by opposition troops - but the Ivorian President, Laurent Gbagbo, denies he is negotiating his surrender. Speaking by phone from his bunker, he said his military were only negotiating a truce - and insisted he had won November's presidential election.
France, however, believes he could surrender within hours. The French armed forces chief, Edouard Guillaud, said while he saw no breakthrough for now, strikes against Mr Gbagbo could resume if he refused to go. The UN says Gbagbo lost the elections and Alassane Ouattara is the elected President.
It's a confused picture in Ivory Coast, but speaking to residents of Abidjan this morning, many say it is calm and quiet with some feeling safe enough to venture out to get supplies before the 12 o'clock curfew.
The in many parts of Abidjan. Yesterday we heard from a spokesman from MSF on our early edition of the show, who told us it is increasingly difficult for aid agencies to move around to distribute food to people.
Meanwhile, the prosecutor at the International Criminal Court, Luis Moreno-Ocampo, in the Ivory Coast to the court to accelerate an investigation into the violence.
As I write, news agencies say that heavy weapons fire has been heard around Laurent Gbagbo's presidential palace. According to the AFP news agency forces loyal to Alassane Ouattara have gone to "fetch" Laurent Gbagbo from a bunker where he is holed up and refusing to surrender.
We'll speak to people in Abidjan to hear their stories and keep you up to date with events as they unfold. Join us on the ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ World Service at 1100GMT
