French troops and United Nations peacekeepers are joining the fight against Ivory Coast's incumbent president as forces backing the country's internationally recognized leader launch another attack for control of the commercial capital, Abidjan.
United Nations and French helicopters in Abidjan have fired on forces loyal to incumbent President Laurent Gbagbo to stop them from using heavy weapons. A spokesman for the U.N. mission in Ivory Coast says helicopters fired on Gbagbo's troops at the main military barracks as well as the presidential palace and Gbagbo's residence.
French President Nicolas Sarkozy ordered French forces to join U.N. operations to protect civilians and remove Gbagbo's heavy artillery.
U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki-moon asked President Sarkozy for what he called "urgent" military operations to silence mortars and rocket launchers that have been used against civilians and U.N. headquarters in Abidjan.
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