Forces capture Ivory Coast strongman in bunker

ABIDJAN, Ivory Coast (AP) — Forces loyal to Ivory Coast's elected president today ended the 10-year rule of strongman Laurent Gbagbo, storming the bunker where he had holed up and putting him under arrest after a crisis that left hundreds dead and threatened to re-ignite a civil war.

Gbagbo's dramatic arrest came after days of heavy fighting during which French and U.N. helicopters fired rockets at his presidential residence. Forces backing the internationally recognized winner Alassane Ouattara had begun a rapid offensive to oust Gbagbo late last month.

Issard Soumahro, a pro-Ouattara fighter at the scene, told The Associated Press that the ground offensive to seize Gbagbo came after the French launched airstrikes until at least 3 a.m. today.

"We attacked and forced in a part of the bunker. He was there with his wife and his son," Soumahro said.

He added that Gbagbo was tired and had been slapped by a soldier, but was not otherwise hurt.