ABIDJAN (Reuters) – Soldiers of Ivory Coast’s rival leaders battled for the presidential palace, military bases and state TV in the main city Abidjan yesterday, in a conflict becoming so brutal that it killed 800 people in one town alone.
Advancing soldiers backing Alassane Ouattara, who UN-certified results show won a Nov. 28 presidential election, met stiff resistance from fighters remaining loyal to incumbent Laurent Gbagbo, who has refused to step down.
State television came back on air after fighting took it down for a day, showing Gbagbo drinking tea, saying the pictures were from his