20110415
reuters

ABIDJAN (Reuters) - The government of Ivory Coast President Alassane Ouattara retracted a statement on Friday that an influential youth leader and staunch supporter of former leader Laurent Gbagbo had been arrested.

Government spokesman Patrick Achi had told French media that the firebrand head of the "Young Patriots" movement, who is accused of inciting violence against civilians, foreigners and U.N. peacekeepers, had been detained but later said he could not confirm the report.

Achi said in a text message to Reuters: "It is not confirmed. We don't know."

Ble Goude, 39, is one of the most wanted members of the fallen Gbagbo regime.

He is the founder and leader of the "Young Patriots" movement which he armed to defend Gbagbo, whose capture by Ouattara's forces on Monday ended a lengthy power struggle.

A military source in Ivory Coast's new government told Reuters that Ble Goude had handed himself in to U.N. forces in Ivory Coast on Thursday.

But when an attempt to take him to Ouattara's Golf Hotel headquarters proved too dangerous for his safety, he was taken to another location, the source said on condition of anonymity.

A U.N. spokesman in Ivory Coast said Ble Goude was not in U.N. custody.