Ivory Coast Update - Tuesday 5 Apr - 21:40

Reuters reported seeing an internal UN document late Tuesday afternoon indicating that Gbagbo had indeed surrendered, but then cited a UN official who said that Gbagbo "had not yet done so but had suggested he wanted to, and had requested U.N. protection."

Reuters also quoted a Gbagbo government spokeperson as saying that negotiations were underway, "based on African Union recommendations which said Alassane Ouattara is president." The spokesperson said they hoped to have a deal concluded "soon" and that legal and security issues for Gbagbo and his camp were being discussed.

France's Foreign Minister Alain Juppé told his country's National Assembly that "we are very close to convincing [Gbagbo] to leave power."

But this seems to contradict some widely held beliefs about Gbagbo's intentions. Several friends, advisors, and analysts who follow Cote d'Ivoire closely have spoken in recent days about the Ivorian leader's absolutist vision of politics, speculating that the man who has come to be seen as an autocrat -- more so than ever since refusing to hand over power after elections last year -- would rather be killed than give up power.

Yet through all the stunning military, diplomatic, and humanitarian developments over the past four and a half days, Gbagbo himself has been unheard and unseen. That changed Tuesday evening when he gave a meandering phone interview to the French cable news station LCI, saying, among other things, "I am not a kamikaze...I don't have a death wish." 

But Gbagbo also remained steadfast in his refusal to recognize his rival Alassane Ouattara as the winner of elections held last November and rightful president of the country, which is believed to be one of the key requirements being negotiated as part of a potential surrender agreement. "The only thing I'm demanding is to see the true poll results," Gbagbo said.

"I am not fighting, I am defending myself from an attack," he added.

The entire interview can be heard (in French) below.