Heavy arms fire pounds Gbagbo's home, French deny role in attacks

ABIDJAN, Cote d'Ivoire - Heavy arms fire rang out on Wednesday near Cote d'Ivoire's presidential residence as the country's incumbent leader remained holed up in a bunker there despite mediation efforts to force his surrender.

A diplomat who spoke on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the matter said the country's forces backing internationally recognized leader Alassane Ouattara were attacking the compound again where Laurent Gbagbo has hunkered down with his family.

Gbagbo representative Toussaint Alain, speaking to The Associated Press in a phone interview from Paris, said Gbagbo's residence was being bombarded by the French army, but the French military denied the claim.