Some background..

Forces loyal to Alassane Ouattara are closing in on Ivory Coast's main city, Abidjan, where Laurent Gbagbo is still clinging to power, even though the UN says he lost last year's election in the world's largest cocoa producer.


What is the fighting about?

Power.

Laurent Gbagbo refused to step down even though the United Nations, which helped organise the election, said he had lost and Alassane Ouattara had won.

He accused former colonial power France of trying to use its influence in the UN to get rid of him and protect its economic interests but no-one believed him.

Analysts say they have rarely, if ever, seen such unanimity in the international community - the African Union, the European Union, the UN and the West African regional body Ecowas all called on Mr Gbagbo to step down and imposed sanctions to force him out.

The AU gave Mr Gbagbo until 24 March to step down but nothing happened.

A few days later, pro-Ouattara forces swept down from their northern strongholds in a relentless march towards the seat of power in Abidjan.

How serious has the fighting been?

It is difficult to tell as it has mostly been in very remote areas.

The advance of the pro-Ouattara forces has been so quick that it suggests they have met little resistance.

But this has come after a three-month stand-off which has seen bloody clashes and targeted killings in Abidjan.

The UN has accused pro-Gbagbo security forces of firing shells into residential areas seen as supporting Mr Ouattara.

A pro-Ouattara group has also emerged in Abidjan, which has been accused of killing Gbagbo supporters.

The UN says almost 500 people have been killed and a million fled their homes.

Many have little access to food and shelter and are living in desperate situations.

What happens next?

The only question is whether he will try one last stand in Abidjan, possibly leading to large numbers of deaths, or if he will flee first.

The International Criminal Court has talked about investigating possible crimes against humanity and so he might be wary of going to the West but he could no doubt find a friendly African country to go to, should he so wish.

He has always been a close ally of Angola's President Jose Eduardo dos Santos and so would probably find a safe haven there.


What is the background to all this?

A decade ago, Ivory Coast was seen as a haven of peace and prosperity in West Africa.

But under the surface, the country has long been deeply divided along ethnic, religious and economic lines.

Its thriving cocoa industry meant living standards in Ivory Coast were far higher than its neighbours, so people from some of the world's poorest countries, such as Mali and Burkina Faso, moved there to earn their living.

Some of these people shared ethnic ties to those living in northern Ivory Coast and, like them, were mostly Muslim.

Some southerners, egged on by populist politicians including Mr Gbagbo, started to resent the influx and demanded action to protect the country's "Ivoirite (Ivorian-ness)".

They portrayed northerners as not being real Ivorians.


How did the northerners react?

The northerners then started to complain that they were being discriminated against.

For example, Mr Ouattara, a Muslim, was banned from standing for president in previous elections because it was said his parents came from Burkina Faso. He had already served as the country's prime minister.

Similarly, many northerners said they were being refused national identity cards and the right to vote.

In 2002, some northern soldiers mutinied and marched on Abidjan. They were on the verge of seizing the whole country when they were stopped by French troops and some 9,000 UN peacekeepers deployed.

The country was then divided into north and south - a split the elections were supposed to end.

Instead they hardened the divisions, although it looks as though that might end soon.

See below the link to the FCO on Ivory Coast - 

http://www.fco.gov.uk/en/travel-and-living-abroad/travel-advice-by-country/sub-saharan-africa/ivory-coast