A helmet protects the blue Gulf Hotel, Abidjan, which serves as headquarters to Alassane Ouattara and his government. Pending a possible attack to "bare hands" supporters of Laurent Gbagbo on the headquarters of his rival Alassane Ouattara. Charles Ble Goude, leader of "Young Patriots", asked the fervent supporters of Laurent Gbagbo to stand ready to assault unarmed and "bare hands" after January 1, Hotel du Golf, which serves HQ Alassane Ouattara.Ble Goude, also Minister of Youth Gbagbo government, was to meet in the day the other leaders of the Patriotic movement, to explore with them what action to take his call. However, all was calm Sunday morning around this luxury hotel, located beside the lagoon Ebrie. Dams filter established by the Defence Forces and Security (FDS) loyal to Gbagbo on the road that accesses the hotel, imposing a road blockade, were still in place but were not reinforced.
The only gathering of the faithful had found a church near the U.S. embassy, Our Lady of Tenderness, near the hotel. "Everything is quiet in the hotel, and it is very serene," assured Patrick Achi, spokesman for the government to Ouattara.
Gulf security is assured by ex-rebel New Forces (FN) of Soro and some 800 soldiers of the UN Operation in Côte d'Ivoire (UNOCI), which also provides the refueling by helicopter. A UN helicopter refuels the Gulf Hotel in Abidjan, which has cut Alassane Ouattara. Possible invasion by thousands of "young patriots" is potentially explosive, especially as Gbagbo has accused UNOCI to have "fired on civilians" Saturday night on state television, RTI, requiring it again leaves home.
This charge has been formally denied by UNOCI. Laurent Gbagbo had already requested the departure of the UN mission and French forces from Operation Licorne, which supports it, accusing them of giving military support to Ouattara. He was recognized last winner of the presidential elections of 28 November by the quasi-totality of the international community, but Gbagbo declared winner by the Ivorian Constitutional Council has retained power.
A delegation of three chiefs of state of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), which will join the Kenyan Prime Minister Raila Odinga, on behalf of the African Union (AU), is expected Monday Abidjan. The presidents of Benin Boni Yayi, Ernest Koroma of Sierra Leone and Cape Verde Pedro Pires, came the first time on Tuesday to meet with Gbagbo and Ouattara, mandated by the ECOWAS has threatened to use force to make it from Gbagbo refused give up her seat to Ouattara.
West African envoys still favor the path of dialogue, but the military option is under preparation. Raila Odinga, on his first visit to Côte d'Ivoire since his appointment by the AU, will spend Sunday Abuja to meet with the Head of State of Nigeria, Goodluck Jonathan, chairman of ECOWAS.
Former opponent appointed prime minister in 2008 after a violent political crisis following a disputed presidential also in Kenya, he has spoken very clearly to the departure of Gbagbo, including by force. Before leaving for Abuja, Abidjan, he said he had "a mission of protecting democracy and the voice of the people in Côte d'Ivoire." "I bring a message of peace to the Ivorian people," he said.
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