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presstv
Ivory Coast's government forces have moved into the stronghold of militia amid fragile security situation after the overthrow of former President Laurent Gbagbo.

"Our positions were attacked this morning by Republican Forces while our soldiers had met to wait for disarmament overseen by the UN," AP quoted the group's chief aide Felix Anoble as saying on Wednesday.

Fighters loyal to the warlord Ibrahim Coulibaly, who helped President Alassane Ouattara come to power after days of fighting with Gbagbo forces, had holed up in northern Abobo district in Abidjan. They deserted their positions and government forces faced no resistance when they moved in.

In an effort to restore calm to the country, Ouattara on Friday asked Coulibaly's group to lay the guns down but the group's leader had said the disarming would take some time.

Meanwhile, Brig. Gen. Michel Gueu, the military adviser to Ouattara's Prime Minister Guillaume Soro, met with a Coulibaly delegation on Tuesday to highlight Ouattara's order.

Deadly clashes erupted between supporters of Soro and Coulibaly over leadership in the central city of Bouake in 2004 which led to Soro's victory. Their competition is considered as a serious challenge to the country's newly formed government.

Coulibaly who claims to command some 5,000 fighters has said he is waiting for the right time to launch a counter-offensive.

Ivory Coast is struggling to restore stability after months of violence following the country's presidential election last year.