Abidjan confronted with ' quick offensive '

April 3, 2011 was last updated on 22 : 43 ET there was a lull in the fighting while reinforcements for Mr Ouattara forces came from the North the Prime Minister of C?te d'Ivoire of internationally recognized president, Alassane Ouattara, has said the time is ripe for a "fast" offensive against the main city of the landAbidjan.

Guillaume Soro said days of clashes in the city of panic among troops loyal to incumbent Laurent Gbagbo had sown.

Ivorians had confidence in Mr Ouattara forces, Mr Soro added.

Earlier, the UN requested Mr Ouattara to investigate hundreds of deaths blamed partly on his supporters.

As many as 1,000 people were killed in the Western town of Duekoue last week after clashes between troops of Mr Gbagbo and Mr. Ouattara.

UN peacekeepers are now tens of thousands of citizens who took refuge in the composition of a local church.

Mr Ouattara supporters have talked about a massacre rejected.

The UN recognized him as President after a run-off vote in November, but Mr Gbagbo also claimed victory and refused to leave office.

' Situation ripe '

The rival forces seemed to hold their positions in Abidjan on Sunday, after several days of intense fighting.

Witnesses said that the southern city was calmer, but remains tense, with sporadic outbreaks of gunfire and shelling in some districts.

A spokesman for protected the United Nations Mission in C?te d'Ivoire (Unoci) said that there had been shot near the Presidential Palace, where Mr Gbagbo is supposed to stay, by the Republican Guard and special forces personnel.

The French have control of Abidjan airport taken from the UN peacekeeping mission

A source in the Mr Ouatara Republican troops said there was a relative lull in the fighting while reinforcements from the North of the country arrived.

Then on Sunday evening, Mr Soro announced that their strategy to encircle Abidjan, which he said has been successful.

"We have soldiers to the Centre of the city to harass Gbagbo of troops, militias and mercenaries sent," he told the television station Mr Ouatara, TCI.

"We have noticed that after this harassment there is a general panic among Gbagbo's troops. The situation is now ripe for a quick offensive.

"The operation will quickly because we have discovered the exact number of operational tanks on the ground. Ivorians must trust in the Republican troops. "

???Continue reading the main story of the world's largest cocoa producerOnce oasis of peace and prosperity in West AfricaAlassane Ouattara recognized as President-elect in 2010International sanctions to force Laurent Gbagbo to goHundreds killed, a million have fled since disputed election9, 000 UN soldiers on the 2003 ceasefireMeanwhile, close to Mr Gbagbo officials said the Chief of defence staff, Gen. Philippe Mangou, the residence of the South African Ambassador, where he defected to the resort after Mr Ouatara side last week now had left.

A spokesman told the AFP news agency that Gen Mangou had participated in a meeting with Mr Gbagbo; a source told Reuters that he had decided to resume his duties as the Commander of Mr Gbagbo troops.

The BBC John James says that after a major offensive begins on Monday, Mr Ouattara conquered most of the country without much resistance forces, but the fight is much harder to Abidjan have been in a city where president Gbagbo draws much of its support.

The posts on the State television pro-Gbagbo has become particularly acute in the last 24 hours, our correspondent says, with accusations that the French peacekeeping force an "occupying power" intent on carrying out genocide in the country, and calling for supporters to form a human shield around the presidential residence.

The French have taken control of the airport of the UN peacekeeping mission and 300 more soldiers to their 1,100-strong force added.

The purpose of strengthening was "to take control of the airport, which also was done in coordination with the UN mission, so the reopening of this airport to civilian airlines and military flights," said an official.

Concern and alarm

Western Ivory Coast has also seen vicious fighting between rival militias.

The UN says that more than 330 people were killed when Mr Ouattara forces took control of the city of Duekoue last week, most of them in the hands of his fighters. However, more than 100 of them were killed by Mr Gbagbo troops, it is added.

The BBC Andrew Harding reports from the Western town of Duekoue

The Catholic charity, Caritas, estimates that 1,000 may have died.

The BBC Andrew Harding in Duekoue says there is looting in the city and many homes have been burnt, adding that the situation is much worse than as an army simply by had moved.

A spokesman for UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, Martin Nesirky, said he had "expressed particular concern and alarm about reports that many citizens in the town of Duekoue have killed by pro-Ouattara forces.

"The Secretary-General said that those responsible must be held accountable."

Mr Ouattara had said his supporters were not involved, but Mr ban told he had ordered an investigation into the killings and would welcome an international investigation, Mr Nesirky added.

So far say Mr Ouattara supporters they've found 162 bodies, and that the death is the result of fighting between local militias.

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UN alarm in Ivory Coast massacre

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