Two witnesses separately confirmed seeing security forces fleeing the capital of Yamoussoukro, which resembled a ghost town as news of the rebels’ advance spread.
If the fighters take the capital, it would be a largely symbolic trophy as the real seat of power is in the biggest city, Abidjan. But if Yamoussoukro falls, it would open up the main highway to the commercial capital, only 143 miles (230 kilometers) away.
Supporters of internationally recognized leader Alassane Ouattara hope that would prompt incumbent Laurent Gbagbo to finally accept an offer of exile four months after the disputed presidential election unleashed political chaos in this West African nation. At least 462 people have been killed and up to 1 million have fled their homes since the vote.
“Blitzkrieg seems to be the strategy, rather than fighting to clear every inch and hamlet,” said Christian Bock, senior security analyst at Avascent International.
“It will take an enormous amount of restraint to hold these forces back from moving onto Abidjan,” he said of the rebels’ momentum.
Residents in Yamoussoukro braced for conflict, shutting down shops throughout downtown.
“Since last night we haven’t seen any FDS (pro-Gbagbo security forces) in town,” said one resident, who requested anonymity for fear of reprisals.
Capt. Leon Alla, a defense spokesman for Ouattara, said pro-Ouattara forces already had taken control of two towns just west of the capital — Bouafle and Sinfra. Another front, coming down from the north, was also advancing toward the capital and had taken the town of Tiebissou Wednesday morning.
A priest in Tiebissou, who spoke on condition of anonymity for fear of reprisals, said Gbagbo’s forces tried to fight off the rebels for 3½ hours before fleeing.
Another priest said he saw the bodies of three dead soldiers in the town, which is 21 miles (35 kilometers) from the capital. Many wounded fighters were being taken to a nearby hospital. People were looting public buildings in Tiebissou, including the police station, witnesses said.
A third front from the east of the country was advancing south, with combat taking place in Akoupe on Wednesday. The rebels secured Bondoukou and Abengourou along the Ghana border on Tuesday, and seemed poised to strike directly at Gbagbo on this front as Akoupe is only 70 miles (113 kilometers) from the country’s biggest city of Abidjan.
As the rebels advanced from three directions, a Gbagbo spokesman called for a cease-fire and mediation. Spokesman Don Mello told Radio France Internationale the army has adopted a strategy of tactical withdrawal. He warned, however, that Gbagbo’s forces could use their “legitimate right of defense.” A statement read on state television Tuesday night declared that the thousands of youth who enlisted in Gbagbo’s army last week would be called up for service starting Wednesday morning.
Asked about the cease-fire offer, a Ouattara ally said it was necessary to resort to legitimate force.
“President Alassane Ouattara was patient and gave Mr.
Laurent Gbagbo every possibility to leave power peacefully.
He refused every offer made to him,” Ivory Coast’s ambassador to France, Ali Coulibaly, said on French radio France Inter Wednesday.
A statement put out by Ouattara’s RHDP party late Tuesday said “all peaceful avenues to convince Laurent Gbagbo of his defeat have been exhausted.” The Vatican announced that it was sending a representative to Ivory Coast Wednesday to encourage a peaceful reconciliation to the conflict.
Ouattara, who is from northern Ivory Coast, had long tried to distance himself from the rebels based there who fought in a brief civil war almost a decade ago that left the country split in two. However, rebels have been stepping up their offensive to install him in power in recent weeks.
Many believe a bloody final battle for the presidency will take place in the commercial capital of Abidjan, which is split into pro-Gbagbo and pro-Ouattara neighborhoods.
Fighting in these areas has been almost daily, with mortars and machine guns being used against civilians. In the past several weeks, fighters loyal to Ouattara have taken effective control of several northern districts in the city.
At least one body lay bloated in the sun in the downtown Plateau business district Wednesday morning, witnesses said. Armed youth who guard nightly barricades around town have started to keep them running during the day.
“These boys are armed. They aren’t the police. They stop everyone and demand money,” said a taxi driver who asked not to be identified for fear of reprisals. “This morning I saw them pull a man out of his car and beat him with the butts of their guns.” ___ Associated Press writers Michelle Faul in Johannesburg; Rukmini Callimachi in Bamako, Mali; and Greg Keller in Paris contributed to this report.
