Ivory Coast: Elected President declares curfew

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Ivory Coast: Elected President declares curfew

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President Alassane Ouattara's has declared an overnight curfew in Ivory Coast.

01 April,2011 04:28 am

President Alassane Ouattaras government in Ivory Coast has declared an overnight curfew in the main city of Abidjan from Thursday through to Sunday, a senior official said. Marcel Amon Tano, Ouattaras chief of staff, said the curfew was needed for security reasons and would run from nine oclock in the evening through to six oclock in the morning each day.Forces loyal to Ouattara have swept south across much of the country, meeting little resistance, and are now in the main city, Abidjan, battling forces loyal to incumbent Laurent Gbagbo, who refuses to step down after a contested election. Heavy weapons fire rang out in central Abidjan on Thursday after presidential claimant Alassane Ouattaras forces marched into Ivory Coasts main city, and his camp said incumbent Laurent Gbagbo had just hours left in power.Residents reported heavy fighting near the state broadcaster, RTI, as well as in neighbourhoods in the south of the city after pro-Ouattara forces swiftly advanced on the lagoon-side city from several directions. Gbagbos elite forces took positions around the presidential palace while French soldiers were also deployed in the city to protect foreign residents. A United Nations helicopter gunship flew overhead.The US government said Gbagbo had been significantly weakened amid defections and the disintegration of his forces. Security sources said some of the gendarmerie had joined Ouattaras camp but others remained loyal to Gbagbo. UN troops were now also in control of Abidjan airport after pro-Gbagbo forces abandoned it, a security source and U.N. sources said.