Here is your R&D for April 11th:
Ivory Coast strongman arrested after French forces intervene from the Washington Post
French forces loyal to president-elect Alassane Ouattara stormed Laurent Gbagbo’s presidential palace today and arrested him without incident. The fall of Gbagbo will likely end major hostilities in the Ivory Coast.
‘Road map’ to Libya peace comes as both sides show signs of fatigue from the Christian Science Monitor
The African Union has presented a road map to end the violence in Libya. Moammar Gaddafi has accepted it, but the plan has sparked some protests by rebel groups.
Palestinians to tell West they ready for statehood from Reuters
Frustrated in talks with the Israelis, reports indicate that the Palestinians may approach Western nations for recognition as a state. Palestinian leaders could ask the UN General Assembly for recognition this September. The recognized state would include Palestinian territory prior to hostilities in 1967.
Tim Pawlenty hires Nick Ayers as 2012 campaign manager from Politico
In miscellaneous 2012 presidential election news, former Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty has hired Nick Ayers as his exploratory committee’s campiagn manager. Ayers is a top national operative who headed the Republican Governor’s Association last year.
Britain will take Iceland to court over £2.3bn bail-out from the UK Telegraph
After Iceland’s voters rejected a long-term repayment plan to the Netherlands and Great Britain after those countries citizens lost money in the 2008 collapse of Icesave Bank, Britain has signaled that it will go through European courts to get back £2.3bn that Iceland owes it. In the meantime, Britain will likely block Iceland’s application into the EU.