Soldiers backing Alassane Ouattara met stiff resistance from incumbent Laurent Gbagbo's fighters in Ivory Coast's main city of Abidjan this afternoon as the two sides fought for control of the west African country.
There was fighting around the presidential palace, state broadcaster RTI and military bases between forces loyal to the two presidential rivals, with gunfire and explosions from heavy shelling reported near the palace throughout the morning.
In a sign of how bloody the conflict has become, the International Committee of the Red Cross said at least 800 people were killed in inter-communal violence in the western Ivorian town of Duekoue this week.
That would bring the confirmed death toll from violence since the presidential election, in which Mr Ouattara was the internationally recognised winner, to 1,300 people.
The actual toll is likely to be much higher because the fighting has been so heavy and because Mr Gbagbo's forces rarely disclose their own losses or civilians they kill.
Gunbattles and the sounds of heavy weapons fire rang out across Abidjan as the country's former rebels pressed an offensive to oust Mr Gbagbo, who has refused to concede power.
Residents said they heard loud explosions near Agban base, the city's largest, in the Adjame neighbourhood near Cocody where Mr Gbagbo has his official residence.
"Mortar fire has been heard since late last night around the gendarmerie. It is very loud and we're taking shelter in our homes," said Jules Konin, who lives nearby.
"The gendarmes from the camp are fighting the insurgents," said another resident, Adi Saba.
Pro-Gbagbo forces retained control of state broadcaster RTI, which came back on air late last night after heavy fighting took it down, showing pro-Gbagbo rallies and file footage of his swearing in ceremony after the contested November election.
An army officer shown surrounded by his troops announced over RTI this morning that all members of Mr Gbagbo's security forces should mobilise to counter the offensive by Mr Ouattara's soldiers.
The military "calls on all members of the national army, the gendarmerie, the national police, border patrol, and navy to join up with the following units," he said before listing bases around Abidjan.
A flashing scroll said Mr Gbagbo's youth leader Charles Ble Goude would give an order soon. The army handed out weapons to hundreds in the group this week and they have killed a number of civilians, particularly West African immigrants whom state TV blames for the rebellion.
Mr Gbagbo, who has refused to quit after a November 28th election that UN-certified results showed he lost, has been hit by a number of high-level defections in the military since pro-Ouattara forces marched on Abidjan, but his camp says he remains in Ivory Coast and will not surrender.
Mr Ouattara's government spokesman Patrick Achi said Mr Gbagbo's was imminent.
"I'm not worried at all. Where is he going to go? He doesn't control the army or the gendarmerie. They will be exhausted. They are running out of ammunition," Achi said.
Reuters