(CNN) -- Laurent Gbagbo has banned U.N. and French flights from flying over the country, a spokesman for the self-proclaimed president of Ivory Coast told CNN Thursday.
"They are now like a company for the rebels," Gbagbo spokesman Ahoua Don Melo said in a telephone call from Abidjan. The move was made "to stop the transportation of the rebel forces around the country," he added.
He was referring to the supporters of Alassane Ouattara, who was recognized by independent election observers as the winner of last November's presidential runoff election but has been unable to take power as long as incumbent Gbagbo -- who has alleged election fraud -- has refused to step aside.
The spokesman denied that the ban was put in place to prevent Ouattara, who traveled this week to Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, to attend an African Union meeting, from returning to Ivory Coast. Ouattara can return to the country through other means if he wishes, he said. CNN
