Ivory Coast | featured news

About 60 people were crushed to death in Ivory Coast's main city of Abidjan overnight after a New Year's Eve fireworks display, an emergency official and state radio said on Tuesday.

Alassane Ouattara has been inaugurated as Ivory Coast's president after months of violence and political turmoil.

After French helicopters attack his bunker at the presidential residence, former Ivory Coast President Laurent Gbagbo is seized by forces for Alassane Ouattara, the official winner of last fall's election. Ivory Coast's Laurent Gbagbo, who refused to concede defeat in elections or in battle, was seized by opposition forces Monday and taken to the hotel where his rival's government was based, according to French and U.N. officials.

U.N. and French helicopters attacked Laurent Gbagbo's last strongholds in Abidjan on Monday as forces loyal to Ivory Coast presidential claimant Alassane Ouattara streamed into the city in a "final assault."

The United Nations mission in Ivory Coast began moving some 200 employees out of the main city Sunday after repeated attacks on its headquarters, as fighters loyal to the internationally recognized president prepared for a battle to oust the incumbent leader.

Thought to be all but defeated, Laurent Gbagbo's forces fought back Saturday, retaking control of Ivory Coast's all-powerful state-run television network that has been the embattled president's voice in his standoff with Alassane Ouattara.

Forces loyal to Ivory Coast President-elect Alassane Ouattara surround the main city of Abidjan, closing in on rival for president Laurent Gbagbo.

Witnesses say security forces fired on protesters for the second consecutive day in Ivory Coast's biggest city, following a call for an "Egypt-style" uprising to depose sitting president Laurent Gbagbo.

Ivory Coast's disputed presidential election has prompted leading banks Paribas and Citibank to suspend operations.

The French government has renewed its call for citizens -- especially those with children -- to leave Ivory Coast as soon as possible, the French Foreign Ministry said Friday.