Laurent Gbagbo arrested in the Ivory Coast

By Lelethu Mquqo
11 April 2011

French soldiers have arrested Ivory Coast President Laurent Gbagbo and handed him over to the opposition.

Gbagbo has refused to step down from power since losing an election in November last year.

He had reportedly been sheltering in a bunker underneath his residence in Abidjan since last week.

He had been surrounded by troops loyal to Alassane Ouattara, who is internationally recognised as the country’s rightful leader.

Meanwhile, President Jacob Zuma says a visit to Libya by a high level committee from the African Union was a “huge success”.

Zuma, who led the delegation, undertook the visit to help broker a peaceful solution to an ongoing political crisis in the North African country.

Libya’s Muammar Gaddafi reportedly accepted the AU’s so-called road map towards lasting peace and democracy.

Rebel leaders remain sceptical however, saying Gaddafi announced several ceasefires over the last few weeks, none of which were upheld.