Ivory Coast Inches Closer to All Out Civil War (UPATED 1845GMT)

(HN, March 30, 2011) - Ivory Coast stood on the brink of civil war today as forces loyal to Alassane Ouattara, the former prime minister, entered the political capital, Yamoussoukro.

According to Al Jazeera, witnesses say fighters supporting Ivory Coast's internationally recognised leader are parading through the streets of the capital after a dramatic advance on the city.

Ouattara's military spokesman confirmed his forces had entered the capital of Yamoussoukro.

Meanwhile, clashes have been reported in both centre-west and the east of the country, driving refugees into Ghana and Togo.

Despite some gains, Ouattara, who was recognized outside Ivory Coast as the legitimate president after defeating incumbent strong man, Laurent Gbagbo, in elections last year, appears unable to hold crucial ground in other areas of the country, including the commercial capital of Abidjan - despite backing by the international community and United Nations forces.

On Wednesday, an offer of a ceasefire by Gbagbo was ignored by Ouattara’s forces as they continued their advance from two sides of the country. Ouattara’s political party said in a statement that “all peaceful means to get Laurent Gbagbo to recognize his defeat have been exhausted.”

The country’s regular armed forces continue to take orders from Gbagbo despite his decisive defeat at the polls in November. Observers say Gbagbo has been using diplomacy as a staling tactic, and that only strong intervention will bring an end to the crisis.

The African Union has invited both sides to engage in talks in Addis Ababa April 4-6, however the major bloc of African countries has so far been unable to bring about peace. West Africa's regional superpower, Nigeria, has failed to make meaningful interventions.

Said one former diplomat who has been based in Abidjan: "The West has to stop being naive - Gbagbo has to be removed by surgical force."

As many as 500,000 people have been displaced within Ivory Coast, and more than 100,000 have fled to neighbouring countries. The United Nations estimates that close to 500 have been killed since the beginning of the electoral standoff in November.

The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) has appealed for calm. "UNHCR continues to advocate with both forces for civilians to be protected from harm," said the UN refugee agency's chief spokesperson, Melissa Fleming, at a press briefing in Geneva on Tuesday.

On Wednesday, Pope Benedict XVI deployed a top official, Cardinal Peter Kodwo Turkson of Ghana, to the predominantly Catholic nation “to encourage reconciliation and peace."

Pope Benedict said his thoughts were with all the people of Ivory Coast who have been "traumatized by the painful internal conflict and the serious social and political tensions," according to the Catholic News Service.

In total, some 116,000 Ivorians have fled to eight West African countries since the post-election crisis started. In addition to Liberia, Ghana and Togo, Guinea, Mali, Burkina Faso, Benin and Nigeria are also hosting Ivorian refugees.

- HUMNEWS staff, agencies, UN