Breaking: Ivory Coast dictator Gbagbo arrested by French special forces

[Lars77]

Source: Reuters

PARIS (Reuters) - Le président ivoirien sortant Laurent Gbagbo a été arrêté lundi par les forces spéciales françaises et a été remis à des chefs de la rébellion, a déclaré à Reuters son représentant pour l'Europe, Toussaint Alain.

"Le président Gbagbo a été arrêté par les forces spéciales françaises et remis à des chefs de la rébellion", a-t-il dit de Paris alors que des chars français venaient de pénétrer dans la résidence du président ivoirien sortant.

Read more: http://fr.reuters.com/article/topNews/idFRPAE73A0DU20110411

[maddezmom]

1. couple of links in English

http://www.publicbroadcasting.net/wxxi/news.newsmain/article/0/0/1787428/World/Gbagbo.aide.says.French.forces.detained.Gbagbo

http://news.sky.com/skynews/Home/World-News/Ivory-Coast-Laurent-Gbagbo-Detained-By-French-Special-Forces-And-Handed-To-Rebel-Opposition/Article/201104215970289?lpos=World_News_First_Home_Article_Teaser_Region_0&lid=ARTICLE_15970289_Ivory_Coast%3A_Laurent_Gbagbo_Detained_By_French_Special_Forces_And_Handed_To_Rebel_Opposition

[pampango]

2. Gbagbo detained by French in his residence, aide says

http://af.reuters.com/article/ivoryCoastNews/idAFLDE73A1IM20110411

French special forces have detained Ivory Coast's Laurent Gbagbo and handed him to leaders of the rebel opposition, after French tanks forced their way into his residence, a Gbagbo adviser in France said.

"Gbagbo has been arrested by French special forces in his residence and has been handed over to the rebel leaders," adviser Toussaint Alain told Reuters.

A French foreign ministry source could not immediately confirm that French forces had detained Gbagbo. "We have no evidence that can confirm that," the source said.

Earlier on Monday a column of more than 30 armoured vehicles advanced towards Gbagbo's residence in Abidjan, a witness told Reuters, and Alain said they had penetrated the building. "It's French forces taking in the rebels," he said. "French special forces are inside the residence."

[Turborama]

3. AJE: French forces 'detain Gbagbo'

News agency reports say French special forces have detained the Ivorian incumbent president.
Last Modified: Apr 11 2011 13:34

French special forces have detained Ivory Coast's Laurent Gbagbo, the French ambassador in Abidjan and a Gbagbo adviser in France have said.

"Gbagbo has been arrested by French special forces in his residence and has been handed over to the rebel leaders," Toussaint Alain told Reuters.

A spokeswoman for forces loyal to his rival presidential claimant Alassane Ouattara also confirmed the arrest .

"Yes, he has been arrested," spokeswoman Affoussy Bamba told Reuters.

From: http://english.aljazeera.net/news/africa/2011/04/201141113114812183.html

[Turborama]

4. Google Chrome translation of the article in the OP

Laurent Gbagbo arrested by French forces in Abidjan
Monday, April 11, 2011 3:06 p.m.

PARIS (Reuters) - Ivorian President Laurent Gbagbo out was arrested Monday by French special forces and has been given to rebel leaders, told Reuters his representative for Europe, Toussaint Alain.

"President Gbagbo has been arrested by French special forces and handed over to the rebel leaders," he said in Paris while the French tanks were entering the residence of the Ivorian president out.

"These leaders of the rebellion were escorted there by the French forces who entered the residence with tanks," he added. "The president was in his office."

Gerard Bon, edited by Yves Clarisse

http://fr.reuters.com/article/topNews/idFRPAE73A0DU20110411

[DLnyc]

7. A semi-frankophone's translation of same article:

(But the article appears to have been edited since your translation. Doesn't seem to mention tanks ("chars") any more.

===========
A spokesman for the forces of Alassane Ouattara confirmed on Monday the arrest in Abidjan of the outgoing president Laurent Gbagbo, who had been confined(?) for several days to his residence in the Cocody neighborhood.

"Yes, he is under arrest," said Affousy Bamba of Reuters in Abidjan.

Another spokesman for the Ouattara forces, Hervé Cohx, based in Paris, specified(?) that Laurent Gbagbo had been brought to the Golf Hotel, headquarters of the recognized winner of the November 28 presidential election.

"I confirm for you the arrest of Gbagbo who is now in the Golf Hotel," he told Reuters. "He has been arrested by the French forces who handed him over to the republican forces."

--Bate Felix, with Yves Clarisse in Paris, Jean-Loup Fièvet of the French bureau(?)
===========

(I welcome corrections by any actual French speakers)

[DLnyc]

8. Actual text in OP says (as far as my limited French can see):

PARIS (Reuters) - The outgoing Ivory Coast President Lauren Gbagbo has been arrested Monday by French Special Forces and turned over to the leaders of the rebellion, their European representative, Toussaint Alain, told Reuters.

"President Gbagbo has been arrested by French Special Forces and turned over to the leaders of the rebellion," he said in Paris soon after(?) French tanks had entered(?) the residence of the outgoing Ivorian president.


???

PARIS (Reuters) - Le président ivoirien sortant Laurent Gbagbo a été arrêté lundi par les forces spéciales françaises et a été remis à des chefs de la rébellion, a déclaré à Reuters son représentant pour l'Europe, Toussaint Alain.

"Le président Gbagbo a été arrêté par les forces spéciales françaises et remis à des chefs de la rébellion", a-t-il dit de Paris alors que des chars français venaient de pénétrer dans la résidence du président ivoirien sortant.

[xchrom]

5. recommend

[Turborama]

6. UN says he surrendered and they are holding him in custody.

Live interview with UN spokesman on Al Jazeera English just now.

[Turborama]

9. Could this be what led to his final downfall?: "Ouattara loyalists destroy 'magic stone'"

(Could this be what led to his final downfall?)

Soldiers loyal to Cote d'Ivoire president-elect claim the monument provided mystical powers to his rival.
Last Modified: 10 Apr 2011 20:25


Ouattara loyalists believed the monument held an evil spell cast by those who support Gbagbo

For many of the combatants in the Cote d'Ivoire conflict, magic counts just as much as military might.

As rival forces of Laurent Gbagbo and Alassane Ouattara pursued their battle for Abidjan on Sunday, a small group of pro-Ouattara soldiers went to the northern entry point of the port city intent on destroying a roughly cut block of stone on a pedestal.

"This is the stone erected when Laurent Gbagbo came to power, to put Abidjan under his spell," explained Lieutenant Daniel Dodo as soldiers took turns to bash away at the monument with a mallet.

"By knocking it down, we are liberating Abidjan."

Full article: http://english.aljazeera.net/news/africa/2011/04/201141019591961780.html

[muriel_volestrangler]

10. Ivory Coast's Gbagbo urges end of fighting-TV

Gbagbo made a brief appearance on the TCI television channel of his rival Alassane Ouattara. "I am calling for the fighting to stop," he said.

http://af.reuters.com/article/commoditiesNews/idAFLDE73A27P20110411

[Omaha Steve]

11. Forces capture Ivory Coast strongman in bunker

Source: AP

By MARCO CHOWN OVED

ABIDJAN, Ivory Coast (AP) - Ivory Coast's elected president used his troops and French tanks and air power to oust strongman Laurent Gbagbo, ending their four-month standoff on Monday by pulling him from his burning residence.

Images of Gbagbo being led into a room in a white undershirt were broadcast on television as proof of his capture even as he refused to sign a statement formally ceding power after losing November's election.

Residents of the commercial capital of Abidjan refrained from celebrating in public, still fearful of the hundreds of armed fighters that continued to prowl the streets, refusing to believe their leader had been arrested. Sporadic gunfire echoed across the city Monday night.

More than a million civilians fled their homes and untold numbers were killed over the course of the power struggle that threatened to re-ignite a civil war in the world's largest cocoa producer. Gbagbo could be forced to answer for his soldiers' crimes, but an international trial threatens to stoke the divisions that President Alassane Ouattara will now have to heal.

Read more: http://apnews.excite.com/article/20110411/D9MHKCGO2.html

---

In this image made from television, Laurent Gbagbo, center, is seen after his arrest, at the Golf Hotel in Abidjan, Ivory Coast, Monday, April 11, 2011. After a week of heavy fighting, forces backing Ivory Coast's internationally recognized leader Alassane Ouattara on Monday arrested strongman Laurent Gbagbo who had refused to leave the presidency despite losing elections more than four months earlier. (AP Photo/TCI via APTN)

[Ian David]

12. Did they do that his eyebrows after they captured him? n/t

[bongbong]

13. Reminds me of repigs......

...... the way they have to be de-throned from office, many times ones they weren't even legally elected to.