French forces have rescued the Japanese Ambassador to safety from near the embattled presidential residence in Ivory Coast's main city, Abidjan. Soldiers traded fire with guards at the residence where Laurent Gbagbo is ensconced, refusing to stand down as president. French helicopters moved in to evacuate the Japanese Ambassador, Okamura Yoshifumi and his aides after his home near the presidential residence was invaded by unidentified gunmen. They were taken to safety in a French military camp at Port-Bouet, south of Abidjan, the French Embassy said. The French said they had acted after a request from Japan and the UN During the operation, French forces exchanged fire with fighters defending Mr Gbagbo's residence. Speaking before his rescue, Mr Yoshifumi said that a group of mercenaries had occupied his residence for five hours. While he and others sheltered in a safe room, the gunmen used his residence as a firing-point to launch rockets and fire machine-guns and cannon, he said. It was not immediately clear if the gunmen were part of the forces defending the nearby presidential residence or the attacking forces loyal to Mr Ouattara. The incumbent president continues to insist he won the election, despite international recognition of Mr Ouattara's victory. Mr Gbagbo says Mr Ouattara's troops want to kill him but they say they have strict orders to capture him alive.