Heavy fighting in Bouake

Heavy fighting continued on Monday in the central Ivorian town of Bouake as the national army launched a major offensive to regain control of the town from rebel soldiers. The fighting started on Sunday afternoon after President Laurent Gbagbo refused to sign a cease-fire agreement proposed by a six-member mediation team from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS). The mediators left for their respective countries. The French government has said that "there is no military solution to the crisis". Radio France International on Monday quoted Foreign Minister Dominique de Villepin as saying Gbagbo should sign the proposed ceasefire. Gbagbo's spokesman Alain Toussaint however insisted that Gbagbo was not opposed to a cease fire France is providing "logistical" support, including transportation and communication equipment to the Ivorian armed forces. The insurrection, first reported as a mutiny then a coup d'etat, started on the night of 19 September. Since then, more than 2,000 foreign nationals have been evacuated from Bouake and Korhogo - the second major town under rebel control- by French and US troops. In Abidjan, the main humanitarian concern was the thousands of people who lost their homes as the security forces conducted 'mop-up' operations for rebels. These people used to live in shantytowns which the government says were hiding grounds for armed elements. Related items on the Cote d'Ivoire situation