Soldiers loyal to Laurent Gbagbo, one of Ivory Coast's would-be presidents, have fired on protesters trying to take control of state TV and killed at least three people, reports say.

Violence has spread throughout Abidjan, with witnesses reporting gun battles near the hotel of Alassane Ouattara, who also claims to be president. The army earlier accused protesters of inciting confrontation.

Mr Ouattara and Mr Gbagbo both claim to have won last month's election, and each has declared himself president.