UN Mounts Pressure on Ivory Coast Dictator

Forces loyal to Alassane Ouattara have been battling loyalists of his rival, Laurent Gbagbo. Photo by EPA

The United Nations and France continue their  offensive against Ivory Coast's embattled dictator, Laurent Gbagbo, early Tuesday.

The UN raid is not supposed to be a declaration of war against the dictator, it is meant to defend civilians and prevent UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon has clarified.

Sustained machinegun and heavy weapons fire were heard over the capital city of Abidjan, and residents were pinned down in their homes in the early hours of Tuesday, the New York Times says. Gbagbo is reportedly still in a bunker beneath his residence. He has refused to leave office despite UN-approved results saying he lost presidential elections in November.

Meanwhile, Alassane Ouattara, who is recognized as the legitimate president of the African nation, has said his troops have alreadyoverrun the home of Laurent Gbagbo, according to BBC.

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