In Ivory Coast, UN and French attack helicopters fired at military camps loyal to strongman President Laurent Gbagbo and the presidential palace and residence. Gbagbo's forces have been accused of killing civilians and attacking UN peacekeepers. The office of French President Nicolas Sarkozy said UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon had requested France's military participation. UN chief Ban Ki-moon has said that helicopter raids by UN and French forces in Ivory Coast were to protect civilians and did not mean the global body had taken up arms against strongman Laurent Gbagbo. Spokesman for the UN Department of Peacekeeping Operations Nick Birnback told reporters in New York that Gbagbo's forces have consistently used heavy weapons against civilians and peacekeepers in recent days. He says the action was taken according to the mandate the mission has from the UN Security Council. The attacks on Gbagbo positions marked a dramatic escalation in the offensive to oust the strongman who has refused to cede power for more than four months since he was declared the loser of the presidential election.