Heavy fighting in Ivory Coast sparks fears of renewed civil war

HEAVY fighting erupted in western Ivory Coast between rebels and forces loyal to incumbent leader Laurent Gbagbo, sources along the Liberian border told Reuters yesterday.

Gunfire could be heard by residents in Liberian border villages and wounded fighters were crossing over, seeking medical attention, the sources said.

Ivory Coast has been in turmoil since a disputed November election that threatens to rekindle the West African state’s 2002-03 civil war, and has already drastically hindered exports from the world’s top cocoa grower.