Six women fatally shot in Ivory Coast protests

(CNN) — Security forces in Ivory Coast have fatally shot six women who were protesting the disputed president’s refusal to cede power, U.S. officials said Friday.

Soldiers loyal to Laurent Gbagbo used a tank to fire on the group, which was peacefully marching in Abidjan on Thursday, according to P.J. Crowley, a State Department spokesman.

Gbagbo is clinging to power despite calls for him to concede after an electoral commission declared challenger Alassane Ouattara the winner of a November presidential election.

The two leaders have been embroiled in a violent power struggle over the disputed vote.

“We condemn the use of violence against civilians and we demand that Laurent Gbagbo step aside in the name of peace,” Crowley said in a statement.

Clashes between their supporters have left scores dead and sparked concerns that the west African nation is headed toward a civil war.

At least 365 people have been killed since the crisis started in December, the United Nations said.

Hundreds of thousands have fled their homes, with about 200,000 leaving the Abidjan area alone since the clashes started.

The United Nations refugee agency warned Friday that it is becoming impossible to maintain access to people in need of urgent humanitarian aid due to the escalating violence.

CNN’s Faith Karimi contributed to this report