The "Republican Forces" loyal to Cote d'Ivoire's presidency claimant Alassane Ouattara on Monday conquered the western town of Duekoue, local sources told Xinhua.

The pro-Ouattara forces took the town, which is 500 km from the economic capital Abidjan, after combats in the morning with troops loyal to incumbent leader Laurent Gbagbo.

Heavy gunfire was heard at dawn, a resident of the town reported to Xinhua on telephone.

A local press correspondent confirmed the attack launched by the "Republican Forces" comprising the ex-rebel New Forces (FN) and elements of regular army formed by Ouattara, who is internationally recognized as the president-elect.

The news of the fall of Duekoue came after an unsuccessful attack on March 16. The "Republican Forces" denied having orchestrated the raid, linking it with Liberian mercenaries and other militia groups allied with Gbagbo.

Duekoue is the gate to the southwestern part of Cote d'Ivoire where the San Pedro port is a key outlet for the cocoa export.

Ouattara's forces had previously taken control of four western towns from the hands of the Gbagbo, who has the south of the world's top cocoa producer since the 2002-2003 civil war while the FN has the north.

Cote d'Ivoire has plunged into a political crisis since the Nov. 28 presidential run-off with both Gbagbo and Ouattara claiming the presidency. The post-election violence has killed more than 400 people and displaced 500,000 others, with armed clashes escalating to the edge of another civil war.

The African Union has sent several missions to Cote d'Ivoire to persuade Gbagbo to cede power to Ouattara, but no breakthrough has been reported so far. A panel of five African presidents is still working on a solution to the crisis.

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