20110403
reuters

ABIDJAN (Reuters) - Soldiers backing Alassane Ouattara met stiff resistance from incumbent Laurent Gbagbo's fighters in Ivory Coast's main city of Abidjan on Saturday 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, and a Reuters reporter heard gunfire and explosions from heavy shelling 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 intercommunal 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 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 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 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 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.