Heavy fighting in Ivory Coast

IVORY COAST: Heavy fighting broke out in western Ivory Coast on Wednesday hours after internationally recognised president Alassane Ouattara offered his rival Laurent Gbagbo a last chance to peacefully quit power.

In the strategic western town of Duekoue, gunfire rang out shortly before dawn as forces loyal to Ouattara attacked those backing incumbent president Gbagbo in a battle for control of the region. “We were attacked by a group of rebels. We were able to push them back. They attacked with heavy weapons, launch-rockets, but the situation is calm now,” said a pro-Gbagbo military source.

No death toll was available after days of fresh fighting in a crisis which the UN estimated last week had seen nearly 400 killed since a disputed election which was aimed at ending a decade of political turmoil.

AFP