UN Fires at Gbagbo Forces

The United Nations and France continued their crackdown in Ivory Coast today, with a UN helicopter firing on Laurent Gbagbo's forces and Nicolas Sarkozy giving his troops the OK to take out the entrenched strongman's heavy weapons, reports the AP. The UN said it acted to stop Gbagbo troops from firing on the Akouedo camp, with Ban Ki-moon citing "a heavy toll on the civilian population."

Forces loyal to Alassane Outtara, meanwhile, continued to pour into Abidjan by the thousands, and a deputy confirmed that their final military push against Gbagbo had begun by afternoon. Explosions appeared to come from the direction of the presidential palace and the mansion where Gbagbo is believed to be hiding; Abidjan is the last piece of the country largely controlled by Gbagbo. (More Ivory Coast stories.)