French troops move towards Gbagbo's Abidjan residence

A column of about 30 French armoured vehicles was seen advancing from one of Abidjan's main boulevards towards the residence of Ivory Coast's incumbent leader Laurent Gbagbo on Monday, a witness told Reuters.

"The vehicles are advancing and there are (French) soldiers behind with an helicopter hovering above," said Alfred Kouassi, a resident who lives in a high-rise building overlooking the boulevard. "We can hear automatic gunfire," he said. (Reuters)