HEAVY FIGHTING broke out across Abidjan yesterday as forces aligned with the internationally-recognised president Alassane Ouattara closed in on his rival Laurent Gbagbo's residence in Ivory Coast's main city.
Mr Ouattara's forces entered Abidjan, the economic capital, late on Thursday night, having met little resistance on a four-day offensive aimed at removing his rival from power. Mr Gbagbo has rejected international calls to step down after losing an election last November and mediation attempts by the African Union have failed.
Fierce clashes were reported around the state television station, which went off the air after it was attacked by pro-Ouattara forces. Heavy gunfire was heard near Mr Gbagbo's presidential palace, which was protected by elite presidential guard soldiers but came under attack throughout the day.
Mr Gbagbo has not spoken publicly in recent days. His location was not clear yesterday, but his spokesman denied speculation he had fled the country. “He is on Ivoirian territory, he has no intention of resigning,” Ahoua Don Mello said in an interview on Radio France Internationale. One of Mr Gbagbo's advisers said he had not intention of surrendering and would "go on till the end."
In Paris, the French foreign ministry again called on Mr Gbagbo to quit to prevent more violence. "The sooner Gbagbo leaves, the sooner the violence will stop," said spokesman Bernard Valéro.
France has a heavy diplomatic, military and commercial presence in Ivory Coast, a former colony, and 500 foreigners in Abidjan were taken to a French military camp after they were threatened by looters taking advantage of the security vacuum yesterday. It was reported that the main airport was taken over by French forces in the afternoon, after UN peacekeepers took control of it the previous day.
The UN, which has condemned violence by Mr Gbagbo's side, also called on Mr Ouattara to rein in his forces, citing what it said were unconfirmed reports they had abducted and mistreated civilians. Among the fatalities confirmed yesterday were a French teacher and a Swedish UN worker who was hit by a stray bullet.
Mr Gbagbo has been in power since 2000. His mandate ran out in 2005 but he delayed the presidential election until 2010, citing instability in the country.
The four-month standoff since the election has killed hundreds and rekindled the country's 2002-3 civil war. About a million have fled Abidjan alone and 122,000 gone to Liberia, while Mr Ouattara has been confined to a hotel on the outskirts of Abidjan, surrounded by UN peacekeepers and forces loyal to his rival.
This week, Mr Ouattara's forces advanced from all directions, taking the capital Yamoussoukro and the cocoa port of San Pedro with relatively little resistance. Some of Mr Gbagbo's senior officers, including the heads of his armed forces and military police, have abandoned him but an unknown number are putting up stiff resistance in Abidjan, his long-time power-base.
At least 494 people have been confirmed killed since the standoff began, according to the United Nations. With security deteriorating, Médecins Sans Frontières warned the violence was severely restricting already-limited civilian access to medical care. "In the city of Abidjan, it is now extremely difficult, if not impossible, to move around within certain neighbourhoods, especially with armed men looting and firing in the streets," the aid agency said in a statement.