By IANS,
Abidjan: West African country Cote d’Ivoire’s political crisis escalated Saturday as forces loyal to incumbent Laurent Gbagbo attacked the strongholds of his presidential rival Alassane Ouattara in the economic capital Abidjan.
Witnesses reported aircraft and armoured vehicles maneuvering in the military offensive on the key district of Abobo in the city to get rid of Ouattara’s supporters, Xinhua reported.
The economic port city has become the West African country’s political centrestage as well since the Nov 28 presidential election.
Both Gbagbo and Ouattara claim the presidency, although the international community recognises Ouattara as the president-elect.
Saturday’s military offensive marked the latest step to force Ouattara and his backers out of Abidjan, where he had been holed up in a seaside hotel since the election before leaving for a meeting of African leaders this week in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, the headquarters of the African Union (AU).
On Wednesday, Gbagbo’s government decided to bar aircraft of the UN Operation in Cote d’Ivoire (ONUCI) and the French Licorne forces from flying or landing throughout the country.