South Africa, Togo may take Ivory Coast's Gbagbo-sources

Wed Apr 6, 2011 4:46pm GMT

[-] Text [+]

* Diplomats say Uganda also outside possibility

* France says negotiations have "failed"

By Barry Malone

ADDIS ABABA, April 6 (Reuters) - South Africa, Togo and Angola are possible safe havens for Ivory Coast's besieged Laurent Gbagbo should he negotiate an exit from his West African country, African Union (AU) sources said on Wednesday.

"South Africa has offered several times before and Togo is now indicating to us that it could be willing to take him in," a senior AU official told Reuters.

"Togo is not a great option, though, as there will obviously be fears that he could cause problems and spoil peace from there -- it's so close to Ivory Coast. I'm betting strongly on South Africa," said the official, who declined to be named.

Two other diplomats in Addis Ababa also said on Wednesday they had heard South Africa and Togo had made asylum offers.

Forces loyal to Ivory Coast's presidential claimant Alassane Ouattara launched a heavy and sustained attack on Wednesday on the bunker where Gbagbo was defying efforts to force him to surrender and leave the country. Continued...

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