{"id":349677,"date":"2011-03-30T11:56:13","date_gmt":"2011-03-30T11:56:13","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.ghanamma.net\/2011\/03\/30\/ivorian-fighters-head-to-capital\/"},"modified":"2011-03-30T11:56:13","modified_gmt":"2011-03-30T11:56:13","slug":"ivorian-fighters-head-to-capital","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.ghanamma.com\/2011\/03\/30\/ivorian-fighters-head-to-capital\/","title":{"rendered":"Ivorian fighters head to capital"},"content":{"rendered":"

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\n 30 March 2011<\/span>
\nLast updated at <\/span>07:56 ET<\/span>
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Forces loyal to UN-backed President-elect Alassane Ouattara are advancing towards Ivory Coast’s capital, Yamoussoukro, on two fronts.<\/p>\n

His forces have recently taken several towns and incumbent leader Laurent Gbagbo has appealed for a ceasefire.<\/p>\n

Mr Gbagbo refuses to stand down despite the UN saying he lost November’s poll.<\/p>\n

A BBC reporter says Yamoussoukro is only the capital in name, but its capture would be a major symbolic victory for the pro-Ouattara forces.<\/p>\n

Some one million people have fled the violence – mostly in the main city of Abidjan – and at least 462 people have been killed since December, according to the UN.<\/p>\n

In the western town of Duekoue, thousands of people have taken refuge in a church compound to escape the fighting this week.<\/p>\n

Army recruitment<\/span><\/p>\n

In Abidjan, the UN says attacks on civilians by pro-Gbagbo youths have continued.<\/p>\n

The BBC’s John James in the northern city of Bouake, in territory held by the pro-Ouattara forces, says the enrolment of these youths into the army is due to start on Wednesday to replace soldiers who are not turning up for work or who have changed sides.<\/p>\n

This week, fighters loyal to Mr Ouattara have been gaining ground in two offensives from their northern bases.<\/p>\n

\n\tContinue reading the main story<\/a>\t\t<\/p>\n

Ivory Coast: Battle for power<\/h2>\n

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