Originally posted by the Voice of America.
Voice of America content is produced by the Voice of America,
a United States federal government-sponsored entity, and is in
the public domain.


Ivory Coast Rebels Take Over Another Town

   VOA News  March 13, 2011
   Internationally  recognized  Ivory  Coast President Alassane Ouattara,
   arrives at the High Level Panel meeting on Ivory Coast, at the African
   Union Commission headquarters in Addis Ababa.

Photo: ASSOCIATED PRESS

   Alassane  Ouattara arrives for a meeting on Ivory Coast at the African
   Union Commission headquarters in Addis Ababa, Thursday March 10, 2011

   Rebels allied with Ivory Coast's internationally recognized president,
   Alassane  Ouattara,  have  taken  control of another western town from
   troops loyal to incumbent President Laurent Gbagbo.
   Spokesmen  from  both  sides say New Forces fighters seized control of
   the  town  of Doke from troops backing Mr. Gbagbo, who refuses to give
   up power after losing November's presidential election.
   The rebels say they now control four towns in western Ivory Coast.
   Mr.  Ouattara  returned  to  Ivory Coast late Saturday from an African
   Union  peace  conference  in  Ethiopia,  ignoring Gbagbo's vow that he
   would not be let back into the country if he left.
   The  AU  has  joined  the  United  Nations and most other countries in
   recognizing  Mr.  Ouattara  as  the winner of November's election. Mr.
   Gbagbo insists he won.
   A  top  Gbagbo  advisor  called  the  AU's  recognition of an Ouattara
   presidency unacceptable.
   The  U.N.  says  post-election  violence  in Ivory Coast has killed at
   least 365 people.

.