Fighting is being reported between Bangladeshi United Nations peacekeepers and supporters of President Laurent Gbagbo in the west of Ivory Coast. At least three people have been killed when the UN base in Guiglo, 300km from Abidjan, came under attack and UN staff are reportedly being evacuated. France has called for calm in towns and cities in the government-controlled south after three days of protests.
Ivorian muslim rebels, who control the north, say the country is on the brink of war. UN Secretary General Kofi Annan has urged an immediate end to "orchestrated violence" in the divided nation. The country has been split in two since a failed coup attempt in 2002, with some 10,000 UN and French peacekeepers patrolling between the rebel-controlled and government areas.
Mr Gbagbo's supporters are angry at international mediators calling for the dissolution of the parliament, which largely backs him. The mediators were appointed by the UN to help steer the country towards elections, due this year. The ruling party subsequently pulled out of the transitional government and UN-backed peace talks and are calling on French and UN troops to leave.
"There is not a future for Ivory Coast if the FPI succeeds in making a putsch against the peace process. That means war," New Forces rebel spokesman Sidiki Konate told the BBC's Network Africa programme. Mr Konate said the rebels, who have controlled the north for three years, remained committed to the transitional government under the leadership of Prime Minister Charles Konan Banny. | Sure, since the UN-backed transitional government seems determined to put them in power. |
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