French forces rescue Japanese diplomat

French forces rescue Japanese diplomat as fierce battle continues at Gbagbo’s residence. The war between Ivory Coast's political rivals engulfed Japan's diplomatic residence in Abidjan where French forces made a dramatic overnight rescue of the Japan's diplomatic residence ambassador and his staff in Abidjan, the French Defense Ministry said Thursday.

Residents reported heavy fighting into Thursday morning as opposition forces are trying to oust self-declared President Laurent Gbagbo from a basement bunker in his residence, not far from the Japanese embassy.

Gbagbo assailants looted the Japanese ambassador's residence and made their way to the rooftop, from where they attacked a nearby residential area and other embassies including that of France, said Col. Thierry Burkhard, spokesman for the French Defense Ministry.

Helicopter-borne French troops fired back at Gbagbo's fighters, Burkhard said. The rescue mission was over in less than an hour.

The fighting, however, between Gbagbo's men and forces loyal to Alassane Outarra, the international recognized president, carried on beyond daylight.

"We could hear it all night," said Kelnor Panglungtshang, a spokesman for the International Committee of the Red Cross. "There were small gunfire and even what sounded like rocket-propelled grenades coming from the residence. It is clear that the area is far from being secure."

Forces loyal to Ouattara stormed Gbagbo's home Wednesday, officials from both sides said. Despite reports of negotiations of a surrender, Gbagbo has remained defiant. Adviser Abdon Bayeto told CNN that Gbagbo was in the basement of his residence "conducting business."

A key question over a surrender revolved around where Gbagbo might go if he were to exit Ivory Coast. African Union spokesman Noureddine Mezni said several African nations -- though he did not name any -- are offering the beleaguered leader "safe retreat."

The November presidential election had been expected to help unify the West African nation, rebounding from a 2002 civil war. Instead, the disputed vote sliced the nation in two.

Sporadic post-election violence erupted into all-out war after Ouattara's troops launched an offensive that swept them through the country to the Abidjan, Ivory Coast's largest city and its commercial center.

Hundreds of people have been killed in Ivory Coast's violence. Humanitarian agencies warn of a worsening toll from the crisis.

A Red Cross-chartered aircraft landed Wednesday in the northern town of Man, carrying nearly 12 tons of supplies for people hit by the warfare.

"The phone calls... they do not stop," said Panglungtshang.

"We have people calling about shrapnel landing on their homes or on their neighbor's home or people that are wounded." he said. "These are civilians. We are hearing from people who have diabetes and cannot get insulin who are close to losing consciousness. It is just desperate. Desperate."