The sound of gunfire has been hear once more in Ivory Coast’s capital. What had been a peaceful march by thousands of women calling for Laurent Gbagbo to step down, soon deteriorated into clashes with security forces.

The violence erupted when youths joined a few women who had remained behind after their march.

Four people are reported dead.

Since November’s disputed presidential election over 400 people have died . Alassane Ouattara is widely thought to have won the poll but Laurent Gbagbo is refusing to hand over power.

The recent election was supposed to end a decade of instability but instead it has been followed by factional violence which has raised fears of a return to civil war.