Cote d’Ivoire's incumbent president Laurent Gbagbo has surrendered and asked for United Nations protection, according to a report.
He had refused to give up power despite losing the presidential election in November 2010 to internationally-recognised winner Alessanne Ouattara, reports Sky News.
Gbagbo has been negotiating his departure following a fierce assault by forces loyal to his rival backed by UN and French helicopter air strikes.
French Prime Minister, Francois Fillon had told members of parliament that two generals were negotiating with Gbagbo.
His comments followed confirmation from foreign minister Alain Juppe who said: "We are on the brink of convincing him to leave power."
Overnight United Nations and French helicopters conducted an operation to destroy weapons belonging to Gbagbo's forces after civilians had apparently been shelled by his troops.
Military bases were hit around the city and rocket launchers were targeted close to Gbagbo's presidential residence.
Hamadoun Tore, spokesman for the UN mission in Cote d’Ivoire, said: "We launched an operation to neutralise heavy weapons Gbagbo's special forces have been using against the civilian population for the past three months. We destroyed them in four locations."
UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon said the air attacks were not a declaration of war on Gbagbo, but were ordered to defend civilians.
Four million people are still trapped by the fighting in Abidjan, a city that has descended into anarchy since pro-Ouattara forces launched their assault five days ago.
In the west of Cote d’Ivoire, a UN team is continuing its investigation into an alleged "massacre" of civilians in Duekoue.
Aid agencies have reported finding as many as 800 bodies in the town which was seized by Ouattara's fighters a week ago.
The UN has put the preliminary death toll at 330. It says 220 were killed by pro-Ouattara forces, and 110 by Gbagbo's troops.
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