Fighting broke out overnight in Ivory Coast with villagers near the capital Abidjan reporting heavy gunfire, trapping them in their homes.

"Since yesterday at 2300 (GMT and local time) we have been able to hear very heavy firing as if there has been fighting between two camps. It has continued this morning, no-one can go out, we are holed up in our homes," said a resident of Dabou, around 50 kilometres (30 miles) west of Abidjan, by telephone. Other residents gave similar accounts.