Ivory Coast government troops have recaptured the country's cocoa city Daloa.
They are said to be working to "destroy all pockets of resistance" in the city and claimed to have repelled another rebel offensive in the east of the West African country.
Residents in newly-liberated Daloa said heavy machine-gun fire and explosions shook the city during yesterday afternoon and seemed to be coming from the main road leading north to Vavoua. By nightfall, Daloa was quiet again.
"The rebels tried to launch a counterattack," said one resident reached by telephone. He said the fighting lasted two hours and the rebel attack failed.
Army spokesman Colonel Jules Yao Yao urged residents of Daloa to report any suspected insurgents to the military. The rebels' capture of the city at the weekend had been a blow for the government and rattled cocoa markets worldwide.
"The counteroffensive against Daloa has ended with success," Col Yao Yao declared on state television. "Our positions are being consolidated as we seek and destroy all pockets of resistance."
Col Yao Yao said rebels also tried to break through government lines east of Bouake, Ivory Coast's second city which has been in rebel hands since they launched their uprising on September 19th.
He claimed that government forces killed five rebels and seized important documents, rocket launchers and other weapons in repelling that attack.
AP