.- Fighters loyal to rival presidential Ivory Coast, Laurent Gbagbo and Alassane Ouattara, remained in their positions on Sunday near the main city of Abidjan, in a day less than the previous three fights. After three days of pitched battles, correspondents and witnesses said the main city of world's largest producer of cocoa was calm, with sporadic gunfire and explosions that were heard in some neighborhoods.
Troops loyal to Ouattara initially launched an offensive this week to topple the outgoing President Laurent Gbagbo, who has refused to cede power after the UN certified that Ouattara won the election. "There was a planned attack (Saturday) against the presidential residence, but did not occur, possibly because the human shield (Young Patriots) around the site," said one Western diplomat.
"But it seems they have started again. I'm hearing some rumblings in the direction of the RTI (state TV)," the diplomat told Reuters on Sunday. The relative lull in fighting allowed residents to venture in search of food and water while others went to church to pray. After quickly taking control of vast regions of the country, for Quattro forces have encountered strong resistance in the past three days.
Troops loyal to Gbagbo have maintained their positions around the presidential palace in Abidjan, the outgoing president's residence and offices of state television. Initially suffering heavy defeats and desertions from the main lines of his army, Gbagbo has about 3,000 Republican Guards, soldiers loyal and its youth wing, the Young Patriots, who have responded to calls to form a human chain around the presidential palace Gbagbo's residence.
SLAUGHTER IN Duékoué The fighting has brought the death toll from post-election violence that began in November with more than 1,300 reports of massacres in the west of the country in which aid agencies say more than 1,000 people died. The UN mission in Côte d'Ivoire, ONUCI, said Saturday that traditional hunters known as dozos fought alongside the forces of Ouattara and took part in the deaths of 300 people in the western city of Duekoue.
Ouattara denied allegations that its forces took part in the slaughter of civilians. The International Committee of the Red Cross said Saturday that at least 800 people died in violence between communities in Duekoue this week. It is unclear whether the 330 deaths recorded by UNOCI are included in this figure.
The UN secretary general, Ban Ki-moon spoke with on Saturday afternoon with Ouattara, who said he was "concerned and alarmed" by reports that its forces may have killed civilians. Ouattara said his forces were not involved in the killing of Duekoue. France said his forces seized the airport in Abidjan to facilitate the evacuation of foreigners and sent 300 additional troops to Ivory Coast, which led to a total deployment of 1,500 troops.
The French Defense Minister, Gerard Longuet, said the evacuation of its 12,000 citizens in Ivory Coast was under consideration. "This is a question that arises and is resolved in the coming hours," Longuet said in an interview with French television LCI. 
Troops loyal to Ouattara initially launched an offensive this week to topple the outgoing President Laurent Gbagbo, who has refused to cede power after the UN certified that Ouattara won the election. "There was a planned attack (Saturday) against the presidential residence, but did not occur, possibly because the human shield (Young Patriots) around the site," said one Western diplomat.
"But it seems they have started again. I'm hearing some rumblings in the direction of the RTI (state TV)," the diplomat told Reuters on Sunday. The relative lull in fighting allowed residents to venture in search of food and water while others went to church to pray. After quickly taking control of vast regions of the country, for Quattro forces have encountered strong resistance in the past three days.
Troops loyal to Gbagbo have maintained their positions around the presidential palace in Abidjan, the outgoing president's residence and offices of state television. Initially suffering heavy defeats and desertions from the main lines of his army, Gbagbo has about 3,000 Republican Guards, soldiers loyal and its youth wing, the Young Patriots, who have responded to calls to form a human chain around the presidential palace Gbagbo's residence.
SLAUGHTER IN Duékoué The fighting has brought the death toll from post-election violence that began in November with more than 1,300 reports of massacres in the west of the country in which aid agencies say more than 1,000 people died. The UN mission in Côte d'Ivoire, ONUCI, said Saturday that traditional hunters known as dozos fought alongside the forces of Ouattara and took part in the deaths of 300 people in the western city of Duekoue.
Ouattara denied allegations that its forces took part in the slaughter of civilians. The International Committee of the Red Cross said Saturday that at least 800 people died in violence between communities in Duekoue this week. It is unclear whether the 330 deaths recorded by UNOCI are included in this figure.
The UN secretary general, Ban Ki-moon spoke with on Saturday afternoon with Ouattara, who said he was "concerned and alarmed" by reports that its forces may have killed civilians. Ouattara said his forces were not involved in the killing of Duekoue. France said his forces seized the airport in Abidjan to facilitate the evacuation of foreigners and sent 300 additional troops to Ivory Coast, which led to a total deployment of 1,500 troops.
The French Defense Minister, Gerard Longuet, said the evacuation of its 12,000 citizens in Ivory Coast was under consideration. "This is a question that arises and is resolved in the coming hours," Longuet said in an interview with French television LCI.
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