Blasts shake city as vote row brings Ivory Coast to the brink of civil war

The bloodshed in the lagoon-side commercial capital Abidjan - once known as the "Paris of Africa" - is part of a risky push to take control of state institutions by Alassane Ouattara, the widely recognised winner of an election that millions once hoped would reunite the West African nation after a 2002-3 war split it in two.

His supporters yesterday were attempting to take control of the city's main television station.

Amnesty International said yesterday that the regional powerhouse "has never been so close to a resumption of civil war". "Every effort must be done to prevent further escalation of violence," the human rights group said.

Long streams of machine-gunfire and unexplained explosions were audible for 30 to 45 minutes in the streets outside the UN-protected Golf Hotel, where Mr Ouattara has attempted to govern, while the incumbent Laurent Gbagbo rules from the presidential palace. The exchange of fire erupted when rebel troops - who control the north of the country and are helping to guard Mr Ouattara -tried to remove makeshift roadblocks on streets near the hotel.

The violence brought Abidjan to a standstill. Businesses were closed and fearful residents stayed home. Streets were deserted except for soldiers and police, who also used batons to beat back demonstrators, some of whom hurled stones from rooftops at security forces. Elsewhere, riot police fired tear gas and live rounds to disperse gathering protesters in several parts of the city.

In the suburb of Abobo, a photographer saw the bodies of three men lying in the street who several witnesses said had been shot by police. One had been shot in the head, two others in the chest.

Ivory Coast has been operating with two presidents and two governments since a disputed run-off vote on 28 November. Mr Ouattara was declared the winner by the country's electoral commission, but the next day the constitutional council overturned those results after invalidating 500,000 votes from Ouattara strongholds.

The dispute has raised fears of renewed unrest in a country known for decades as a beacon of prosperity and stability in a part of Africa better known for coups and war; its cocoa plantations attracted millions of immigrants from neighbouring nations.

Mr Ouattara draws much of his support from the country's rebel-held north, while Mr Gbagbo's power base is in the south.

Casualty tolls for the day's violence varied.Traore Drissa, a prominent lawyer who runs the Ivorian Movement for Human Rights, said 15 people were killed, while senior opposition official Amadou Coulibaly put the toll at 18. Amnesty counted at least nine corpses.

Amnesty International's West Africa researcher Salvatore Sagues said the group was "appalled by this completely unjustified and disproportionate use of force".

Mr Drissa said clashes had also broken out in the capital Yamoussoukro, as well as the rebel stronghold of Bouake and the central town of Tiebissou.

"The next two days will determine everything. It's all or nothing," said Abidjan resident Jean-Claude N'dri.

Battle for state control:

Alassane Ouattara, whose election victory has been acknowledged by the UN, EU and the African Union, has called on his backers to help him take control of state institutions.

The intention of yesterday's march by Mr Ouattara's supporters was to install a new state TV chief, but they did not get close to the actual station building.

The two channels broadcasting from it provide a powerful voice for the person controlling them: In the days after the UN said Laurent Gbagbo lost the vote, people watching state TV saw only the announcement of his victory.

The building is heavily protected by Mr Gbagbo's troops, who have sealed off surrounding streets.