AFP - Ivory Coast's army chief of staff, General Philippe Mangou, has sought refuge at the official residence of the South African ambassador, the foreign ministry in Pretoria said Thursday.
Mangou, a key ally of outgoing president Laurent Gbagbo, arrived late Wednesday with his wife and five children at the Abidjan home of Zodwa Lallie, South Africa's ambassador to Ivory Coast, the ministry said in a statement.
"The South African government is in consultation with the relevant parties in the Ivory Coast, Economic Community of West African States, the African Union and the United Nations regarding this matter," it said.
Foreign ministry spokesman Clayson Monyela said he could provide no further details on the general.
The announcement came as forces backing Ivory Coast's internationally recognised president Alassane Ouattara moved swiftly towards the economic capital Abidjan in a bid to oust strongman Gbagbo, who has refused to cede power.
Mangou, 59, fled to the diplomat's home just one day after state television in Ivory Coast read out a statement from him urging Gbagbo supporters to enlist in the army if they are "willing to die for their country".
Gbagbo appointed Mangou as army boss on November 13, 2004.
Days earlier, as a senior military officer, Mangou led a campaign against rebels who at the time had controlled the northern half of the country since a failed coup in September 2002.
The operation was cut short after nine French soldiers were killed in an air raid in the rebels' capital of Bouake.
Mangou is seen as a moderate in Ivory Coast's current crisis, which erupted when Gbagbo refused to cede defeat to Ouattara following November elections.
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