Mr. Blé Goudé played a central role in Mr. Gbagbo's efforts to stay in power by force after his defeat in presidential elections in November 2010, recruiting and arming youths who went on to beat and sometimes murder opponents in the economic capital, Abidjan.
The father and son smiled as Mr. Granville raised the Holy Bible -- his weapon of choice -- into the air and spoke of the importance of arming youths with the right weaponry to fight against Satan and his temptations, particularly the lure of street gangs.
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Then the Lou Nuer began amassing a huge force of heavily armed youths.
Live television images showed dozens of heavily armed youths setting up positions and preparing to battle the police, who are being supported by Brazilian marines in six armored personnel carriers.
If the militiamen are pushed out of Congo, their disarmament will take place on the battlefields of Ruhengeri, says the adviser, referring to the province that encompasses much of the Virunga foothills.So far, the attacking militiamen have been mainly poorly armed youths, many recruited from the camps.
There were armed youths in black ski masks and black-checked head scarves riding jeeps, children with bandanas that said "Jerusalem is Ours" and swaggering gunmen in full battle gear: rifles with sniper scopes, ammunition belts, bandoleers, grenades and bullet-proof vests.
Almost 5,000 civilians were sheltering at the camp in Bor when armed youths broke through the gates and opened fire.
But tensions remain high, he said, adding that armed youths working for the criminal gangs were the ones controlling the city's entry points -- not federal forces.
Supporters of Johnson cited his bigger frame, stronger arm and youth.
