France helps seize Gbagbo in Ivory Coast
Laurent Gbagbo, the incumbent president of Ivory Coast, was taken prisoner yesterday and is in the custody of forces loyal to his opponent, Alassaine Ouattara. Protected by French-led UN troops in Abidjan, the hotel has been Ouattara’s base since the disputed presidential election of November 2010. - In fact, the French government moved in decisively to attack and arrest Gbagbo, in flagrant violation of the UN resolutions that justify their presence in France’s former colony. Neither the UN nor France has a mandate to arrest Gbagbo; they have no mandate for regime change in Ivory Coast. Under resolutions 1975 and 1962, they are permitted only to protect civilians and defend themselves from attack.