In Ivory Coast, the residence of entrenched ruler Laurent Gbagbo in Abidjan has been captured. Reports say forces loyal to Alassane Ouattara, the country's internationally recognised president, said they had taken the building after a day of fierce combat. A spokesman for Mr Ouattara, Patrick Achi, said it was not yet clear whether Mr Gbagbo had been inside. UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon said the attacks were ordered to defend civilians and were not a declaration of war on Mr Gbagbo. He said Mr Gbagbo's forces had stepped up the use of mortars, rocket-propelled grenades and heavy machine-guns against civilians. Millions of civilians have been trapped by five days of fighting in the city, where Mr Gbagbo is refusing to leave office despite UN-approved results saying Mr Ouattara won November's presidential election.