Fresh clashes erupt in Ivory Coast

South African president Jacob Zuma (C, L) is flanked by South African ambassador to Ivory Coast Lallie Ntombizodwa (C,R) as he arrives yesterday at Abidjan international airport.Photo: AFP

Fresh clashes erupted between supporters of the Ivory Coast's rival presidents yesterday, with a man shot dead in army gunfire, as four African leaders launched a new bid to break the impasse.
At least a dozen people were also injured in clashes in Abidjan between forces loyal to Laurent Gbagbo, who refuses to concede defeat after a November 28 election, and his rival Alassane Ouattara, witnesses said.
Three Ouattara supporters were killed in violence in the city on Saturday while security forces loyal Gbagbo announced yesterday they had lost three men in the unrest in the past two weeks.
Soldiers with Gbagbo opened fire yesterday with live ammunition to disperse young supporters of Ouattara who had made barricades of tables and burning tyres in Abidjan, residents said.
A civilian man crossing the road was shot dead, they said. Pro-Ouattara supporters have called for a "revolution" similar to one that toppled president Hosni Mubarak in Egypt early this month.