The camp headed by Cote d'Ivoire's internationally recognized president Alassane Ouattara on Monday declared the final battle to take over control of the world's top cocoa producing country in West Africa, Xinhua reported.
The camp's spokesman Alain Lobognon said the Republican Forces backing Ouattara launched the final offensive on Monday afternoon on the main targets of the state television, the presidential palace and the presidential residence, the last bastions of Ouattara's presidential rival Laurent Gbagbo in the biggest city Abidjan.
The declaration came amid reports that 4,000 fighters entered the city to join the 5,000 pro-Ouattara forces fighting day in and day out since Thursday.
Heavy weaponry was witnessed in the city on Monday when the Republican Forces maneuvered troops for military operations.
The resistance by the pro-Gbagbo forces proves stronger than expected to extend the Abidjan battle, which is seen as decisive for the destiny of the 65-year-old incumbent president, who clings to power despite the international pressure for his departure after the Nov. 28 election.
The Republican Forces launched the military march in December while the political standoff triggered waves of post-election violence.
...