Abidjan - Thousands of people are fleeing fighting between troops loyal to Ivory Coast strongman Laurent Gbagbo and those of his rival Alassane Ouattara, in the west of the country, sources said on Wednesday.
Clashes broke out on the road between the strategic town of Guiglo - held by Gbagbo's Defence and Security Forces (FDS) and supporting militia - and the town of Blolequin, 60km to the west.
Blolequin was on Monday seized by the Republican Forces, the new name for the pro-Ouattara forces, essentially composed of the ex-rebel group New Forces who have held the north of the country since a failed coup in 2002.
“Our forces repulsed the pro-Gbagbo soldiers who withdrew to Guiglo. They were confronted by one of our patrols in the area on Tuesday night, and they disengaged,” said the spokesperson for the Republican Forces, Seydou Ouattara.
The FDS said it was progressing towards Blolequin.
“An offensive is being prepared against Blolequin, we are only a few kilometres from the town,” FDS sources told AFP.
Several witnesses reported villagers on the frontline between Blolequin and Guiglo were fleeing towards the latter town, or further east.
Blolequin is the fifth town to be seized by pro-Ouattara forces since mid-February.
Guiglo, along with Duekoue, 30km to the northeast, are key crossroads leading east to the political capital Yamassoukro and south to San Pedro, the world's biggest cocoa exporting port.
Western Ivory Coast, bordering Liberia, and the economic capital Abijdan have been the main theatres of fighting between the two camps, which has raised fears of a civil war.
According to the UN, 500 000 people have fled their homes since the start of the crisis after the November 28 election, of which 90 000 have sought refuge in Liberia.
At least 440 people have been killed in the violence, according to the UN, as Gbagbo refuses to cede power to his rival Ouattara, internationally recognised as the rightful president. - Sapa-AFP