Fighting has erupted in western Ivory Coast, breaching the six-year ceasefire between ex-rebels and government troops. A UN spokesman told the BBC there were clashes in the village of Teapleu in the early hours on Thursday. He said given the political stalemate, the reports were very worrying. This is a very serious issue because it would be the first time the ceasefire is broken in six years. Tensions have been rising since President Laurent Gbagbo's refusal to hand over to Alassane Ouattara, widely seen as the winner of November's poll. The spokesman said, it will also change the nature of the tension because so far they have been witnessing violence between civilians and the army. Meanwhile, the clashes between rival supporters in the main city of Abidjan have claimed up to 20 lives since Monday.