诛仙3 79天劫:Despite attacks, Gbagbo's residence remains impregnable - People's Daily Online

来源：百度文库编辑：九乡新闻网时间：2024/05/01 17:40:38

Despite attacks, Gbagbo's residence remains impregnable

11:20, April 09, 2011

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Despite the "final assault" launched on Wednesday by Cote d'Ivoire Republican Forces (FRCI, pro-Ouattara) at the residence of the country's embattled President Laurent Gbagbo, many people are still baffled by the resistance the latter has put up.

French soldiers patrol on a street in Abidjan, Cote d'Ivoire, April 7, 2011. Cote d'Ivoire's internationally recognized President Alassane Ouattara on Thursday announced the blockade of his presidential rival Laurent Gbagbo's residence in the West African country's biggest city Abidjan, vowing to restore order and security. (Xinhua/He Peng)
Capturing embattled president has become a tall order for his rival, demonstrating that he had a great capacity for resistance.

"The FRCI promised to capture him alive, thinking that it was going to be easy and they even claimed that they would take control of his home in a matter of hours," a resident of Yopougon district (pro-Gbagbo) Leon Kore remarked.

In his opinion, "Gbagbo is very cunning and he must have made arrangements to resist for a longer period of time."

"Gbagbo is being protected by an elite squad. These special forces are well equipped and have the means to put up a resistance for almost three months. A soldier told me when we had gone to enrol in the army," added Paul Alomo, a member of the "Youth Patriots" (pro-Gbagbo).

While speaking on Thursday to a local radio station, the FRCI military spokesman, Seydou Ouattara, claimed that Gbagbo had ordered for more weapons which were coming through the sea and he was waiting for the arrival of these weapons to launch another war which he hopes to win.

Seydou thinks that this is why Gbagbo called for a cease-fire so that he could get enough time to re-arm his soldiers.

An employee of a pan-African NGO, Clement Oura, thinks that Gbagbo would not have resisted for too long if he was not being assisted by mercenaries. KNOWLEDGE OF THE GROUND IN ABIDJAN

Majority of the pro-Ouattara soldiers come from the northern parts of the country where they have lived all their lives and seem not to have known the Abidjan terrain while Gbagbo's forces seem to know the course very well and this has helped them to properly secure the embattled president's residence.

"The knowledge of the terrain is fundamental in war. Troops who know the ground can fight very well whether at night or during day time," a retired soldier told Xinhua.

A HOUSE WITH ADVANTAGEOUS CHARACTERISTICS

The characteristics of the embattled president's house could also have played a role in his favor.

The presidential residence which was constructed during the time of Cote d'Ivoire's first president Felix Houphouet Boigny, is a strong building.

The building also has a superior underground with bunkers which ensure the security of those inside. "Gbagbo is holed up with his close confidants in the bunker in his residence. The doors to the bunker are armored," a well placed source had revealed this immediately after pro-Ouattara forces launched an offensive.

The presidential residence in Abidjan is seen as a fortress in which Gbagbo has found a solid refuge.

These various advantages among others, have helped the besieged president to continue putting up a resistance which is still surprising to many observers.

The UN estimates that almost 1,000 people have been killed in Cote d'Ivoire's election violence which broke out in mid-December following disputed presidential elections.

Source: Xinhua

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