America sends special forces to Ivory Coast school

The United States has sent about 200 special forces soldiers to Ivory Coast to rescue American children trapped in a school in the rebel-held city of Bouake for a week.

The deployment is America's largest to Africa since its doomed mission to Somalia in 1992 to support United Nations relief efforts.

France also had troops on standby in Ivory Coast last night to rescue French nationals and other Westerners.

Bouake, the country's second biggest city, has been controlled by rebel forces since the coup attempt began last Thursday. More than 270 people have been killed in fighting between troops loyal to President Laurent Gbagbo and well-armed rebels.

At least 100 American children, aged between five and 12, staff and a small number of Canadian and Dutch pupils are inside the school, the International Christian Academy, which mainly caters for children of missionaries serving in various West African countries. Lieutenant Commander Donald Sewell, a US Defence Department spokesman, said: "The US European Command is moving forces there [to Ivory Coast] to ensure the safety of American citizens in the wake of a civil unrest."

He said the US ambassador had asked for the troops, adding: "The United States is committed to ensuring the safety of its citizens ... and remains ready for any and all contingencies."

President Gbagbo has pledged to launch a full-scale assault to freeBouake, which has a population of half a million, and Korhogo, a northern opposition stronghold. Ivory Coast military commanders say that, until now, only fears of civilian casualties had stalled the attack.

Residents in Bouake reported hearing more than an hour of heavy gun and artillery fire yesterday afternoon. One frightened man reached by telephone said: "We don't know what is going on because we are all inside."

Although the rebels initially denied that they had come under attack, they later claimed to have repelled a government assault on an officers' training college.

In Korhogo, rebels firing automatic weapons into the air began ordering people out of the town centre yesterday and back into their houses.

Ivory Coast's main opposition leader, Alassane Dramane Outtara, has accused the government of trying to kill him after the uprising. Speaking from the French embassy, where he has taken refuge, he said: "It's clear they are using the situation to try to liquidate and eliminate people in my party."