Besieged Ivory Coast leader Laurent Gbagbo was detained on Monday in the west African state's main city of Abidjan and taken to the headquarters of his elected successor, Alassane Ouattara.
Earlier in the day, the French ambassador said that Gbagbo was arrested by French troops.
Forces loyal to Ouattara had been besieging the presidential residence where Gbagbo was holed up and refusing to cede power.
An Ouattara spokesman told the Al Jazeera news agency that Gbagbo, along with his wife and several advisors, was being held by at the Golf Hotel under the protection of the UN mission.
Earlier on Monday, a column of French armoured vehicles were seen advancing towards Gbagbo's residence. Today and through Sunday night, UN and French helicopters fired rockets at the site.
MOSCOW, April 11 (RIA Novosti)