Battles in Ivory Coast intensify in main city Abidjan
Fighting in Ivory Coast has intensified, in the main city of Abidjan as forces loyal to the UN-recognised president, Alassane Ouattara, battle those of his rival, the incumbent Laurent Gbagbo.
Heavy artillery fire has been heard as the troops fight for key sites including the presidential palace.
Four UN soldiers were seriously wounded by Gbagbo's forces on Saturday. As many as 1,000 civilians have reportedly been killed in the west of the country.
Catholic charity Caritas said civilians had been shot or hacked to death with machetes in a part of Duekoue, controlled by troops loyal to Ouattara.
Fierce fighting was reported outside the presidential palace, the headquarters of state television and the Agban military base on Saturday, with artillery and machine-gun fire echoing throughout the southern city.
Wounded soldiers loyal to Ouattara were seen being rushed to a hospital outside the city, while confident-looking reinforcements headed the other way.
Special forces troops loyal to Gbagbo fired a rocket-propelled grenade at a UN armoured personnel carrier, seriously wounding four peacekeepers carrying out a humanitarian mission, the UN said.
Millions of civilians are still trapped by the fighting. The BBC reports that small groups have been seen with hands held high, running for safety along deserted streets.
Henry Grey of medical aid group Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF) said there had been looting across the city, and warned that there were "groups of armed men looking for an opportunity to profit from the chaos".
Meanwhile UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon said "At this time, I strongly urge Mr Gbagbo to step down and transfer power to the legitimately elected president... Mr Ouattara."
Ouattara was internationally recognised as president after winning a run-off vote in November, but Gbagbo also claimed victory and refused to leave office.
Tens of thousands of women, men and children have fled the fighting.
The United Nations human rights office says it has received reports of major human rights violations committed by both sides in the conflict.
West Africa's second biggest economy has been brought to its knees by the conflict, which has sent global cocoa prices spiralling upwards. Ivory Coast is the world's largest cocoa producer.
