Violent clashes in Ivory Coast in recent days are rapidly changing political and military balances in the field, at the expense of a growing number of victims among the civilian population. Fighters loyal to President-elect, Alassane Ouattara, have gained ground with two big offensive from bases in the north.
In the last few hours have come to the capital, Yamoussoukro, and are located within 200 kilometers of the main ports of the country: San Pedro, where they exit from most of the exports of cocoa, and Abidjan, the former capital and the most populous city with more than 4 million people.
As soldiers of Laurent Gbagbo, the outgoing president and initiator of the conflict by refusing to concede defeat in elections last November, there are already fighting in Yamoussoukro. The testimonies collected by not clear who is controlled by the Ivorian capital. According to a source quoted by the African agency APA also have been some contacts between the leadership of both sides to try to reach an agreement to end the fight.
The progress of the fighters Ouattara has been rapid in recent hours. Last night, and witnesses quoted by Agence France Presse, told of heavy gunfire in Bouafle (central Mexico), midway between Daloa, won yesterday, Yamoussoukro. Tiebisso residents also reported fierce fighting, which stood on the offensive about 40 miles from the capital.
In addition, having three major cities yesterday, forces loyal to Ouattara today reached Daloa populations and Issia, both on the road that ends at the Atlantic port of San Pedro, according to witnesses and combatants have been told to. Further east, near the border with Ghana, supporters of President-elect-heirs of those who were considered rebels, who have controlled the north since the civil war in 2002 and 2003 - have also moved south .
According Abengourou neighbors have come to this city, where two roads that end in the metropolis of Abidjan, the economic capital, where many embassies are located even though it stopped being capital in 1983. Gbagbo calls for a ceasefire in front of the military advance of his opponent, outgoing president of the Ivory Coast, Laurent Gbagbo, has called for an immediate ceasefire.
A spokesman for the former president said yesterday that the army has adopted a strategy of tactical withdrawal, but warned it could use its "legitimate right of defense." The statement served to clarify once again that Gbagbo refuses to resign despite the UN certified that lost the elections on November 28 against Ouattara.
"We demand an immediate ceasefire and the opening of negotiations under the mediation of the High Representative of the African Union. If there is no truce, we will use our legitimate right of defense," said Ahoua Don Mello, a spokesman for Gbagbo. Almost a million people have fled their homes by the violence - mostly in Abidjan - and at least 462 people have died since December, according to the UN.
The last of those who have knowledge are ten civilians killed in Abidjan. They were participating in a demonstration in favor of Ouattara Gbagbo when soldiers opened fire, according to a United Nations report from the outgoing president's camp has refused ensuring that Abidjan is "impregnable" to his enemies.
In the city of Doekoue, up to 30,000 people have taken refuge in the grounds of a Catholic mission to escape the fighting. Pope Benedict XVI today made an "urgent appeal" for the "urgent restoration of respect and peaceful coexistence" in Ivory Coast and announced the dispatch of Cardinal Peter Turkson to express solidarity on behalf of the victims and to urge reconciliation.
Negotiations "to prevent more victims" for their part, followers of Alassane Ouattara, recognized by the international community as president, said yesterday that it had exhausted "all peaceful means for the country out of the crisis that lies behind presidential elections in November. "All peaceful means to bring Gbagbo admit defeat" in recent presidential elections "have been exhausted," he said in a statement Ouattara's party, the Association of Hufuetistas for Democracy and Development (RHDP).
Gbagbo's spokesman said Gbagbo's forces had been invited by the African Union to participate in the talks in Addis Ababa, scheduled for 4 to 6 April and saw "no reason to reject an opportunity for dialogue" . In this regard, said his party "hoped that the dialogue will open soon, it is useless to persist in the conflict and increase the number of victims." He also rejected UN accusations that pro-Gbagbo forces had opened fire against civilians on Monday, killing at least 10 and burning a man in Abidjan.
In contrast, accused the UN mission - which has a peacekeeping force of 9,000 troops in the country - from "partisan behavior." 
In the last few hours have come to the capital, Yamoussoukro, and are located within 200 kilometers of the main ports of the country: San Pedro, where they exit from most of the exports of cocoa, and Abidjan, the former capital and the most populous city with more than 4 million people.
As soldiers of Laurent Gbagbo, the outgoing president and initiator of the conflict by refusing to concede defeat in elections last November, there are already fighting in Yamoussoukro. The testimonies collected by not clear who is controlled by the Ivorian capital. According to a source quoted by the African agency APA also have been some contacts between the leadership of both sides to try to reach an agreement to end the fight.
The progress of the fighters Ouattara has been rapid in recent hours. Last night, and witnesses quoted by Agence France Presse, told of heavy gunfire in Bouafle (central Mexico), midway between Daloa, won yesterday, Yamoussoukro. Tiebisso residents also reported fierce fighting, which stood on the offensive about 40 miles from the capital.
In addition, having three major cities yesterday, forces loyal to Ouattara today reached Daloa populations and Issia, both on the road that ends at the Atlantic port of San Pedro, according to witnesses and combatants have been told to. Further east, near the border with Ghana, supporters of President-elect-heirs of those who were considered rebels, who have controlled the north since the civil war in 2002 and 2003 - have also moved south .
According Abengourou neighbors have come to this city, where two roads that end in the metropolis of Abidjan, the economic capital, where many embassies are located even though it stopped being capital in 1983. Gbagbo calls for a ceasefire in front of the military advance of his opponent, outgoing president of the Ivory Coast, Laurent Gbagbo, has called for an immediate ceasefire.
A spokesman for the former president said yesterday that the army has adopted a strategy of tactical withdrawal, but warned it could use its "legitimate right of defense." The statement served to clarify once again that Gbagbo refuses to resign despite the UN certified that lost the elections on November 28 against Ouattara.
"We demand an immediate ceasefire and the opening of negotiations under the mediation of the High Representative of the African Union. If there is no truce, we will use our legitimate right of defense," said Ahoua Don Mello, a spokesman for Gbagbo. Almost a million people have fled their homes by the violence - mostly in Abidjan - and at least 462 people have died since December, according to the UN.
The last of those who have knowledge are ten civilians killed in Abidjan. They were participating in a demonstration in favor of Ouattara Gbagbo when soldiers opened fire, according to a United Nations report from the outgoing president's camp has refused ensuring that Abidjan is "impregnable" to his enemies.
In the city of Doekoue, up to 30,000 people have taken refuge in the grounds of a Catholic mission to escape the fighting. Pope Benedict XVI today made an "urgent appeal" for the "urgent restoration of respect and peaceful coexistence" in Ivory Coast and announced the dispatch of Cardinal Peter Turkson to express solidarity on behalf of the victims and to urge reconciliation.
Negotiations "to prevent more victims" for their part, followers of Alassane Ouattara, recognized by the international community as president, said yesterday that it had exhausted "all peaceful means for the country out of the crisis that lies behind presidential elections in November. "All peaceful means to bring Gbagbo admit defeat" in recent presidential elections "have been exhausted," he said in a statement Ouattara's party, the Association of Hufuetistas for Democracy and Development (RHDP).
Gbagbo's spokesman said Gbagbo's forces had been invited by the African Union to participate in the talks in Addis Ababa, scheduled for 4 to 6 April and saw "no reason to reject an opportunity for dialogue" . In this regard, said his party "hoped that the dialogue will open soon, it is useless to persist in the conflict and increase the number of victims." He also rejected UN accusations that pro-Gbagbo forces had opened fire against civilians on Monday, killing at least 10 and burning a man in Abidjan.
In contrast, accused the UN mission - which has a peacekeeping force of 9,000 troops in the country - from "partisan behavior."
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