The French defence ministry said today French troops have taken over Abidjan's airport and that France plans to send an additional 300 troops to the Ivory Coast.
Fighters loyal to Ivory Coast presidential rivals Laurent Gbagbo and Alassane Ouattara held onto positions around the main city Abidjan today, a day that saw less fighting than the previous three.
Following the three days of pitched battles, witnesses said the main city in the world's top cocoa-growing nation was calm this evening with sporadic gunfire and explosions heard in some neighbourhoods.
The fighting has brought the number of people killed since the post-election violence began in November to over 1,300.
Catholic charity Caritas said in a statement that teams visiting Duekoue reported that a thousand people have been killed or "disappeared".
Ivory Coast presidential claimant Alassane Ouattara has rejected UN charges that his forces were involved in a massacre of hundreds of civilians.
The UN mission in Ivory Coast (ONUCI) said last night that traditional hunters known as Dozos fought alongside Mr Ouattara's forces and took part in killing 330 people in the western town of Duekoue.
Troops loyal to Mr Ouattara launched an offensive early this week to dislodge incumbent president Laurent Gbagbo who has refused to cede power after losing a UN certified election to Mr Ouattara.
The International Committee of the Red Cross said on Saturday that at least 800 people were killed in inter-communal violence in Duekoue this week.
It is not clear whether the 330 counted by ONUCI is included in that figure.
The UN said secretary-general Ban Ki-moon spoke late last with Mr Ouattara, who told him his forces were not involved in the Duekoue killings.
Guillaume Ngefa, the deputy head of the human rights division of the UN's mission in Ivory Coast (UNOCI) speaking on France24 television, blamed 220 of the deaths on pro-Ouattara forces.
He said the killings happened between Monday and Wednesday as pro-Ouattara troops advanced southward.
He said pro-Gbagbo militia fighters killed over 110.
"The government (Ouattara's) notes with regret that the allegations of the deputy chief of ONUCI human rights division are not supported by any evidence after its preliminary investigation," Ouattara's government said in a statement.
It also denied that Dozos were part of its forces. After swiftly taking control of swathes of the country, pro-Ouattara forces have met fierce resistance over the past three days.
Troops loyal to Mr Gbagbo have held on to positions around the presidential palace in Abidjan, Mr Gbagbo's residence and the state television.
Reuters