Ivory Coast Rebels Clash with French

ABIDJAN, Ivory Coast — French troops clashed with rebels yesterday in western Ivory Coast, their second serious engagement in a three-month war that has crippled the former French colony.

Nearly 2,000 French troops are in Ivory Coast to enforce a cease-fire between the northern rebels and the government and to protect French citizens and other foreign nationals.

But the French have been increasingly dragged into the fighting, especially in the west, where they are effectively blocking any rebel advance south.

Yesterday's clash took place near the strategic crossroads town of Duekoue, 55 miles south of the western rebel-held town of Man, scene of some of the fiercest fighting of the war.

Lieutenant Colonel Ange-Antoine Leccia, a spokesman for the French Army, said: "A French patrol was set upon by a group of around 30 to 40 rebels on foot. They fired on the French soldiers, who responded." No French soldiers were hurt, he said.

The rebels could not immediately be reached for comment.

Leccia said the French used mortars to repel the rebels. About 15 French soldiers, who were patrolling in jeeps, were involved in the clash. The rebels have seized a string of towns in the cocoa- and coffee-rich west.

Two rebel factions are fighting in the region, and it was not immediately clear which one was involved in the clash. The rebels have been joined by fighters from neighboring Liberia, who are notorious for their lack of discipline and looting.

Another rebel faction holds the northern half of Ivory Coast, the world's largest cocoa producer. They were behind the coup attempt that began the war in September. All three factions are demanding the resignation of President Laurent Gbagbo.

In Washington, the US State Department said it had been notified that an American citizen had been reported missing in Ivory Coast. But the US Embassy in Abidjan said early yesterday that officials believed the man was safe at his base in the western town of Toulepleu, near the Liberian border.

Yesterday's clash occurred less than a week after French soldiers fired on a rebel convoy that was speeding toward a French checkpoint northeast of Duekoue. Three rebel cars were destroyed by tank-mounted cannons, and six rebels were killed.

Rebels accuse the French of backing Gbagbo's troops and have warned that any French attack on their positions would be deemed "an act of war."

Some 300 French reinforcements were due to arrive in Abidjan today, on a ship also carrying light armored vehicles. They will bring the total number of French forces to around 2,500.

Loyalist forces have suffered setbacks in the west in recent weeks, notably losing control of Man to the rebels a week ago.

Lieutenant Colonel Jules Yao Yao, a spokesman for the Ivorian army, addressed growing criticism of government forces, saying yesterday that they were outnumbered 4-to-1 during the 20-hour battle for Man.

As fighting continues, Ivory Coast's embattled president has been working on a new peace plan, due to be unveiled in the coming days. Local newspapers said the plan includes the offer of a unity government and a referendum on nationality issues. However, the reports did not mention new elections, a key rebel demand.