Ivorian policemen die in clashes

The latest clashes took place in the neighbourhood of Abobo in Abidjan

At least two police officers have died in fresh fighting overnight in Ivory Coast’s main city of Abidjan, in a stronghold of Alassane Ouattara.

Mr Ouattara is recognised by the UN as the winner of a November poll, but incumbent President Laurent Gbagbo has refused to concede that he has lost.

The BBC’s John James in Abidjan says four police transport vehicles and one armoured vehicle were also destroyed.

Four people died in fighting nearby on Tuesday between rival supporters.

Mr Gbagbo’s party has rejected an offer from Mr Ouattara to form a unity government.

November’s presidential vote was supposed to reunify the world’s largest cocoa producer, which has been divided between north and south since a conflict in 2002.

A spokesman for the New Forces – the armed movement that is loyal to Mr Ouattara and that controls the northern half of the country – has said its fighters were not involved in the fighting in Abobo, the suburb of Abidjan which has witnessed the fighting.

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