Ivory Coast troops, rebels clash

By Pauline Bax
The Associated Press

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After a day of surprise bombing runs destroyed the rebel headquarters in Bouake on Thursday, U.N. military spokesman Philippe Moreux reported the first skirmish between rebel and government ground troops yesterday near the town of Raviar, about 20 miles south of Bouake.

In Abidjan, the nation's largest city, residents stocked up on food supplies, fearing a possible rebel counteroffensive.

"Everybody is afraid," said Bakary Biaye, a doctor, as mobs of anti-rebel youth swarmed around his house, demonstrating in favor of the army's offensive.

So far, the rebels have waged no major counteroffensive, but nervous residents in Abidjan were anticipating one.

"We don't know if the rebels have infiltrated," said one resident, Laurent, who refused to give his last name. "Maybe they're already in Abidjan ... we're ready for anything."

Few details on yesterday's attacks were available. Raviar is in the middle of a vast buffer zone that stretches across the country, separating combatants from the rebel-held north and government south. The buffer zone is patrolled by members of a 10,200-strong U.N. and French peacekeeping force.

In Paris, French Defense Minister Michele Alliot-Marie called the situation "extremely worrying" and urged the United Nations to "give all lawful means" to help peacekeepers restore order.

Rebels claimed government warplanes launched fresh attacks west of Bouake with two aircraft, striking rebel-held Vavoua with machine-gun fire and dropping explosives. The target was not clear, said Yeo, a rebel commander who would give only his first name. A pair of Russian-built Sukhoi fighter jets also pounded the rebel town of Seguela with rockets, targeting a checkpoint there, said Henry Aussavy, a spokesman for French peacekeepers.

Residents of Bouake hid in darkened homes, fearing more onslaughts as government warplanes flew overhead. With water and electricity cut, families ventured out to draw water from wells. Several buildings in the town, including civilian homes and businesses, were in ruins.

Ivory Coast, the world's top cocoa producer and West Africa's former economic powerhouse, has been split into rebel north and government south since a September 2002 coup attempt sparked a civil war.

The civil war killed thousands and forced more than a million people from their homes. A 2003 peace deal ended major fighting. But power-sharing failed to take hold.

Copyright © 2004 The Seattle Times Company

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