Cote d'Ivoire's Gbagbo surrenders

Pretoria - The United Nations peacekeeping mission in Cote d'Ivoire hasconfirmed that the country's former president Laurent Gbagbo has surrendered to forces loyal to President-elect Alassane Ouattara and is currently in their custody. 

"ONUCI [UN Operation in Cote d'Ivoire] is providing protection and security in accordance with its Security Council mandate," the spokesperson of the Secretary-General told reporters at UN Headquarters on Monday. 

C"te d'Ivoire has been engulfed by violence since last November, when Gbagbo refused to step down from power, despite losing a UN-certified and internationally recognised presidential election to Ouattara. - BuaNews