There are reports that president-elect Alassane Ouattara’s soldiers have stormed the compound where former Ivory Coast President Laurent Gbagbo has been holed up in a bunker. There were reports Tuesday that Gbagbo was negotiating his surrender. However, he then denied these reports. Will Laurent Gbagbo hand over power or try to lead the Ivory Coast deeper into a civil war? President Barack Obama has called for Gbagbo to stand down immediately, and order those fighting on his behalf to put down their arms. In a statement on Tuesday, Obama said: “Every day that the fighting persists will bring more suffering, and further delay the future of peace and prosperity that the people of Cote d’Ivoire deserve.” This is the last leg of a cat and mouse game that has been going on since Gbagbo’s opponent, Alassane Ouattara came out ahead in presidential elections in November.
Joining us with the latest from the Ivory Coast is Veronique Edwards from the BBC’s African Service. We also hear from an American expat named Liz, who lives in Ivory Coast.
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