Reply #70: WRAPUP 4-Ouattara overshadowed by Ivory Coast killings

[tabatha]

ABIDJAN, April 8 (Reuters) - U.N. workers in Ivory Coast have found the bodies of more than 100 victims of brutal killings, a discovery that threatened to undermine presidential claimant Alassane Ouattara as he seeks to take control of the country.

Ouattara's rival, Laurent Gbagbo, meanwhile was left isolated behind a military cordon in the bunker where he has sought refuge after a concerted assault by Ouattara's troops earlier this week.

Ouattara appears for now to have decided to isolate Gbagbo in his Abidjan residence, rather than press ahead with attempts to drive him out by military force, and concentrate instead on efforts to restore normal life after weeks of fighting.

But Ouattara's ability to unify the West African state may be undermined by reports of atrocities since his forces -- a collection of former rebels from the north -- swept south into Abidjan, the commercial capital, more than a week ago.

http://af.reuters.com/article/ivoryCoastNews/idAFLDE73700G20110408?sp=true