Ivory Coast: Laurent Gbagbo 'negotiating surrender'

France says negotiators are on the brink of agreeing his departure.

Mr Gbagbo is sheltering with his family in the basement bunker of his residence in the main city, Abidjan.

Troops loyal to Mr Gbagbo's rival, UN-recognised President Alassane Ouattara, say they have surrounded the compound.

The UN says Mr Gbagbo's military and civilian advisers are leaving him.

"We are very close to convincing him to leave power," French Foreign Minister Alain Juppe told the National Assembly in Paris.

Mr Gbagbo's spokesman, Ahoua Don Mello, said there were "direct negotiations based on African Union recommendations which said Alassane Ouattara is president."

"They are also negotiating judicial and security conditions for Gbagbo's camp and his relatives," Mr Don Mello said.

Mr Gbagbo has refused to leave office even though the Ivorian election commission declared him the loser of November's run-off vote, and the UN certified the result; Kazinform cites BBC News.

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