Ivorian presidential plane confiscated

Sun Dec 26, 2010

Authorities in a Swiss airport have confiscated an aircraft belonging to Ivory Coast's incumbent President Laurent Gbagbo, reports say.

The official aircraft of Gbagbo was blocked at the Basel-Mulhouse airport, jointly administered by French and Swiss authorities, a French foreign ministry spokesman told AFP on Sunday.

The aircraft's return to Ivory Coast was block at the request of France and Gbagbo's rival, Alassane Ouattara, reports say.

French Foreign Ministry spokesman, Bernard Valero, said the plane was grounded in response to a request by the rival Ivorian government set up by Ouattara.

"The legitimate authorities [of Ivory Coast] asked us to ground the plane and that's exactly what we have done in response to their request," Valero said.

Swiss official confirmed only that the presidential plane was on the airfield, but provided no further details.

France along with the rest of the international community keeps calling on the president to step down as they see Ouattara as the rightful winner of last month's presidential polls in the West African country.

Despite threats from West African leaders to use "legitimate force" to overthrow Gbagbo, he refuses to hand over power.

Earlier in the day, he warned that Ivory Coast could face another civil war, should Western African countries attempt to overthrow him by force.

Source: PressTV.
Link: http://www.presstv.ir/detail/157297.html.