French strike Gbagbo's residence in Ivory Coast: witnesses

ABIDJAN (Reuters) - French helicopters struck the area around Laurent Gbagbo's residence in Ivory Coast's main city on Friday hours after the nearby home of the French ambassador came under attack, two residents told Reuters.

They said they could see the French helicopters and heard explosions in Cocody, the upscale district of Abidjan where Gbagbo's residence and the home of the French ambassador are located.

Gbagbo is holed up in his residence and has refused to cede power to Alassane Ouattara, who won a November presidential election according to U.N.-certified results.

(Reporting by Ange Aboa, wiritng by Silvia Aloisi)