A/HRC/17/48 42. The third stage began with the FDS attack on the FAFN positions in Bounta (western region) and ended with the arrest of Mr. Gbagbo on 11 April 2011. FAFN, joined by FRCI from 17 March onwards, started to gain control of the towns and finally of Abidjan. The troops still loyal to Mr. Gbagbo sought the support of militias (FESCI and the Groupement des patriotes pour la paix (GPP) in Abidjan, AP-Wê, FLGO and UPRGO in the western part of the country) and mercenaries to make up for the defection of some elements of FDS, in order to hold out against the troops of the FAFN zone commanders with the added strength of their own militiamen (Invisible Commando in Abidjan, Dozo hunters in the western part of the country) along with FDS deserters. FDS that had remained loyal to Mr. Gbagbo seem, from that time, to have acted outside their usual, regular chain of command. In Abidjan, in the commune of Yopougan, forces favourable to either camp clashed in armed combat, while in the commune of Abobo and in the western part of the country, acts of violence were systematically committed by both camps against civilians targeted by reason of their supposed political affiliation. 43. The fourth stage, which extended from 11 April to 28 May 2011, was marked by the gradual establishment of calm and security in the capital and then in the rest of the country, except for some isolated fighting, when FRCI hunted down the last militiamen and mercenaries, thus committing in turn acts of violence in certain places against the civilian population (pillage, extortion, violence against persons, arbitrary arrests and detentions). On 27 April, Ibrahim Coulibaly, known as “IB”, leader of the Invisible Commando, was killed by FRCI in the northern part of Abidjan. Key events in Abidjan 44. During the pre-electoral period, acts of intimidation and violence were committed against certain campaign officials and against communities considered favourable to the candidate Ouattara. Several victims and witnesses stated that houses belonging to northerners and members of the Baoulé ethnic group were marked with the letters “X” or “B” in several districts of Abidjan to make it easier to identify the occupants. 45. Between 27 and 29 November, RHDP youth demonstrations in Akobo, protesting against the curfew announced by former President Gbagbo, were severely crushed by FDS, leaving 12 persons dead. At the end of the second ballot, witnesses also reported the existence of blacklists of people to be eliminated, including RHDP representatives at polling stations. 46. On 16 December, during the RHDP march, at least 18 people were killed in the PK-18 district of Abobo and 14 FDS members were also reported to have died. 47. On 4 January, elements of FDS attacked the headquarters of the Parti Démocratique de la Côte d'Ivoire (PDCI) in Cocody. One hundred and thirty-six RHDP supporters were arrested, including 19 women and a number of children. One person was killed and four were seriously wounded during the incident. 48. Between 11 and 12 January, FDS using vehicles of the anti-riot brigade (BAE) and the Security Operations Command Centre (CECOS) attacked the PK-18 district of Abobo killing at least nine people. 49. From 18 to 20 January, FDS (in particular, members of CECOS, the Compagnie Républicaine de Sécurité (CRS), agents of the anti-riot brigade and soldiers of the Marine) put down any demonstration of support for the civil disobedience operation launched throughout the country by RHDP on 18 January. 50. On 7 and 8 February, at least 10 people were killed by FDS-CI. In response to the violence, a self-defence group, later known as the Invisible Commando, was formed in the PK-18 district of Abobo. This was the beginning of the “Battle of Abidjan”, when for the GE.11-14375 (EXT) 13