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Forces loyal to Ouattara plan to seal Ivory Coast border
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March 30, 2011
Original URL: http://en.wikinews.org/wiki/Forces_loyal_to_Ouattara_plan_to_seal_Ivory_Coast_border



After a battle for the Ivory Coast town of Duekoue, armed forces loyal
to president-elect Alassane Ouattara have announced an effort to seal
the border between the Ivory Coast and Liberia.

On Monday, Ouattara forces, dubbed New Forces, and those loyal to
Laurent Gbagbo, who claims to be the winner of a disputed election last
fall, began fighting in Duekoue, a western town of strategic importance
due to its position at a crossroads, with access to both Liberia and
Guinea.

According to a spokesperson for Ouattara, Seydou Ouattara, the New
Forces won the battle, the latest in a series of settlements they have
taken control of in recent weeks, and have moved south towards the town
of Guiglo.

The New Forces also announced they plan to seal the Ivory Coast --
Liberia border, as Gbagbo is accused of importing Liberians to fight in
his forces. Spokesperson Ouattara said that "[t]oday's operation will
prevent Gbagbo from recruiting and training Liberians as he has been
doing."

According to the United Nations, around 460 people have died in violence
since the disputed elections, and another million have left the country.

== Sources == 
* http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-12880623
* http://www.voanews.com/english/news/africa/Heavy-Fighting-Erupts-in-Key-Ivory-Coast-Town---118765824.html



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