Britain's "Rehab" singer Amy Winehouse dies

(Reuters) - Amy Winehouse, one of the most talented singers of her generation whose hit song "Rehab" summed up her personal struggles with addiction, died in London on Saturday at the age of 27.

The multiple Grammy winner, famed for her black beehive hair, soulful voice and erratic behavior both on and off stage, was found dead at her home in Camden, north London. Police were called to the address at around 1500 GMT (11 a.m. British time).

Sky News quoted police sources as saying they suspected the death was caused by a drugs overdose.
"We are deeply saddened at the sudden loss of such a gifted musician, artist and performer," her record label Universal said in a statement. "Our prayers go out to Amy's family, friends and fans at this difficult time."
Friends and family had long warned that Winehouse's lifestyle, which saw her in and out of rehab and affected her career as a live and recording artist, could be her downfall.

Winehouse's last filmed performance was last month in Serbia, when she was jeered by the crowd, struggled to perform her songs and keep her balance as her band gamely played on. The performance, which was posted on the YouTube video sharing site, prompted her management to cancel all her scheduled performances and give the performer as long as it took to recover.

Police cordoned off the leafy street outside Winehouse's home in Camden, where dozens of onlookers had gathered along with fans, media photographers and camera crew. Winehouse's father Mitch, who has launched his own musical career on the back of his daughter's success, had been in New York when the news broke. Sarah Brown, wife of former prime minister Gordon Brown, tweeted: "sad sad news of Amy Winehouse - great talent, extraordinary voice, and tragic death, condolences to her family."

Kelly Osbourne, a singer and television personality, also took to the micro blogging site to react: "I cant even breath right now I'm crying so hard I just lost 1 of my best friends. I love you forever Amy & will never forget the real you!"

Broadcaster and radio DJ Paul Gambaccini said Winehouse's early death was sadly no surprise.
It's tragic because both (her) albums were superb. We have 40 years of Frank Sinatra records, it turns out we only have two Amy Winehouse records."

Winehouse was born on September 14, 1983, to a Jewish family with a history of jazz musicians. She was discovered by soul singer Tyler James at the age of 16 and in 2003 her debut album "Frank" was released, to general acclaim.

The album's hit single "Rehab" contained the line: "They tried to make me go to rehab.

U.N. document says Ivory Coast Gbagbo surrendered

ABIDJAN (Reuters) – Ivory Coast's Laurent Gbagbo has surrendered and asked for United Nations protection, an internal U.N. document seen by Reuters said on Tuesday.
"...President Gbagbo has also surrendered and has asked UNOCI's protection," the document to U.N staff said.
Gbagbo was negotiating his departure following a fierce assault by forces loyal to his presidential rival backed by U.N. and French helicopter air strikes.

Fighters surround Ivory Coast strongman in bunker

ABIDJAN, Ivory Coast – Surrounded by troops backing Ivory Coast's democratically elected leader, strongman Laurent Gbagbo huddled in a bunker with his family Tuesday and tried to negotiate terms of surrender directly with his political rival, officials and diplomats said.
France's foreign minister said Gbagbo would be required to relinquish power in writing after a decade as president, and must formally recognize his rival Alassane Ouattara, the internationally backed winner of the November election that plunged the West African nation into chaos.
Gbagbo was talking about the terms for his departure directly to Ouattara, according to a diplomat who spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to speak publicly.
Forces loyal to Ouattara on Tuesday seized the presidential residence where Gbagbo tried to wrest last-ditch concessions, said a senior diplomat who spoke on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the matter. Ouattara has urged his supporters to take Gbagbo alive.
French Foreign Minister Alain Juppe told a parliamentary commission that military chiefs in the former French colony also have given orders for a cease-fire.
United Nations and French forces opened fire with attack helicopters on Gbagbo's arms stockpiles and bases on Monday after four months of political deadlock in the former French colony in West Africa. Columns of foot soldiers allied with Ouattara also finally pierced the city limits of Abidjan.
"One might think that we are getting to the end of the crisis," Hamadoun Toure, spokesman for the U.N. mission to Ivory Coast said by phone. "We spoke to his close aides, some had already defected, some are ready to stop fighting. He is alone now, he is in his bunker with a handful of supporters and family members. So is he going to last or not? I don't know."
Toure said that the U.N. had received phone calls Tuesday from the three main Gbagbo-allied generals, saying they were planning to order their troops to stop fighting.
"They asked us to accept arms and ammunition from the troops and to provide them protection," he said.
The offensive that began Monday included air attacks on the presidential residence and three strategic military garrisons, marking an unprecedented escalation in the international community's efforts to oust Gbagbo, as pro-Ouattara fighters pushed their way to the heart of the city to reach Gbagbo's home.

President Barack Obama said Tuesday he welcomed the role of the U.N. and French forces in Ivory Coast, also known by its French name Cote d'Ivoire.
"To end this violence and prevent more bloodshed, former President Gbagbo must stand down immediately, and direct those who are fighting on his behalf to lay down their arms," Obama said in a statement. "Every day that the fighting persists will bring more suffering, and further delay the future of peace and prosperity that the people of Cote d'Ivoire deserve."
Gbagbo refused to cede power to Ouattara even as the world's largest cocoa producer teetered on the brink of all-out civil war as the political crisis drew out, with both men claiming the presidency. Ouattara has tried to rule from a lagoonside hotel, while Gbagbo has stubbornly refused every olive branch extended to him.
On Tuesday, the African Union's Peace and Security Council again urged Gbagbo to cede power immediately to Ouattara "in order to curtail the suffering of the Ivorian people."
The French foreign minister said negotiations with Gbagbo and his family were ongoing.
"His adviser, Alcide Djedje, who is presented as his foreign minister, has arrived at the French Embassy and he's in the process of discussions on conditions of Gbagbo's departure," Juppe said from France.
Even before the offensive, postelection violence had left hundreds dead — most of them Ouattara supporters — and forced up to 1 million people to flee their homes.
Ivory Coast gained independence from France in 1960, and some 20,000 French citizens still lived there when a brief civil war broke out in 2002. French troops were then tasked by the U.N. with monitoring a cease-fire and protecting foreign nationals in Ivory Coast, which was once an economic star and is still one of the only countries in the region with four-lane highways, skyscrapers, escalators and wine bars.
Following four months of attempts to negotiate Gbagbo's departure, the U.N. Security Council unanimously passed an especially strong resolution giving the 12,000-strong peacekeeping operation the right "to use all necessary means to carry out its mandate to protect civilians under imminent threat of physical violence ... including to prevent the use of heavy weapons against the civilian population."

Ivory Coast: Laurent Gbagbo's residence has been captured.

The fighting in Ivory Coast's main city, Abidjan, has taken a new turn with reports that the residence of the ruler entrenched Laurent Gbagbo had been arrested.
Forces loyal to Alassane Ouattara, president of the country's internationally recognized, say they have built up after days of fierce fighting.
A spokesman for Mr Ouattara, Patrick Achi, told the BBC it is not yet clear if Mr Gbagbo was in deep.
Earlier, the UN and French helicopters attacked targets near the residence.
UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon said the attack was ordered to defend civilians and no declaration of war against Mr. Gbagbo.
He said the troops Mr Gbagbo has been increasing use of mortars, rocket-propelled grenades and heavy machine guns against civilians.
Millions of civilians have been trapped by five days of fighting in the city, where Mr Gbagbo refused to leave office despite the outcome of UN-approved says Mr Ouattara won the presidential election in November.
Forces loyal to Mr Ouattara initiate dramatic military attack last week, swept in from the north and west. 'Still looking'
Patrick Achi, a spokesman for Mr Ouattara, have said the president recognized that is controlling the lives and looking for Mr. Gbagbo. Continue reading the main story Ivory Coast: Battle for Power

   "Lodging is at various levels," he told the BBC.
"People have seen that Gbagbo was in residence, but they are still looking for him."
When asked what would happen if Mr Gbagbo was arrested, he said he would be arrested and "taken to court."
No word from the camp Mr Gbagbo in Ivory Coast but one of the advisers in London, George Abdon Bayeto, expressed doubts about the story residence has fallen.
"This is all propaganda and it's all psychological warfare," he said.
Earlier, the UN and French helicopters attacked Mr Gbagbo's arsenal, missile firing heavy weapons and military camps.
A senior official of peace, Alain Le Roy, said the decision was based on UN Security Council resolution expressly permit the Board of such action to protect civilians.
The use and heavy caliber weapons by force Gbagbo has, he said, increased sharply in recent days.
The UN mission has been under almost constant attack and have been forced to act, he said.
However, air strikes to coincide with what looks like the final attack on Mr Gbagbo's last stronghold by troops loyal to rival Mr Ouattara, the BBC's Barbara Plett reports from the UN in New York.
Analysts say the timing is not likely a coincidence because there is a feeling that the month-long stand-off between the two claimants president was nearing an end.