Fighting has reached the bunker of the presidential palace in Ivory Coast, as forces loyal to Alassane Ouattara, attempt to force out Laurent Gbagbo. Gbagbo is believed to be in the bunker underneath the palace with his family.

Pro-Ouattara troops are in control of the majority of the country, and took over the administrative capital, Abidjan, at the end of March.

Read 01.04 - A timeline of main events in Ivory Coast since the presidential election

Gbagbo has refused to give up the presidency since losing in November’s elections. With 46 percent of the vote, he claims to be the winner, and is backed by the country’s Constitutional Council.

Nevertheless, Ouattara’s victory in the November’s election was confirmed by the Ivorian Electoral Commission and the UN.

On Monday, the UN launched airstrikes against Gbagbo in Abidjan. However, their forces are not involved in the assault on the palace currently taking.

The EU has now imposed fresh sanctions on Gbagbo, banning the purchase of bonds from what they are calling his “illegitimate government.”