BBC News: Ivory Coast: '800 die in Ivory Coast ethnic violence'

It seems that the Ivory Coast is on the verge of fulfilling the UN's definition of the scene of 'major conflict' (1,000+ deaths per annum) as fighting in the West African state this week claims over 800 fatalities, according to respected sources. BBC News has the story and video coverage:

At least 800 people are reported to have been killed in the Ivory Coast city of Duekoue this week, as rival forces continue to battle for power.

International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) staff visited Duekoue and said the scale and brutality of the killings were shocking.

The city was captured by fighters supporting UN-recognised president Alassane Ouattara this week.

His forces have ringed Laurent Gbagbo's troops in the main city, Abidjan.

Mr Ouattara was internationally recognised as president after winning a run-off vote in November, but Mr Gbagbo also claimed victory and refused to leave office.

Do read the rest, providing insights into what promises to be one of the bloodiest conflicts of the year—and Africa's 'other war' (Ivory Coast does not get nearly as much media attention as Libya).

BBC News also has a convenient Q&A page regarding the "Second Ivorian Civil War".