The United States has called on Côte d'Ivoire stongman Laurent Gbagbo to step down immediately claiming he is pushing the west african nation into lawlessness. US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said the path forward for Gbagbo is clear and he must leave now so the conflict may end.

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So far, Gbagbo has been brushing off calls by world leaders to step down amid an offensive by troops backing the internationally recognised presidnt Alassane Ouattara in the main city of Abidjan.

Meanwhile, the streets of Abidjan were deserted on Sunday while fighting abated near Gbagbo's bastions after a four-day assault by rival forces. Terrified Abidjan residents have been in lockdown since Alassane Ouattara's army arrived on Thursday after a lightning offensive across the country, seeking to unseat Gbagbo.

And a boosted French peacekeeping force has taken control of Abidjan airport after heavy fighting between rival forces over the weekend.



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