French Stave Off Rebels in Ivory Coast

French forces firing tank-mounted cannons drove back rebels in Ivory Coast on Saturday, stalling the insurgents’ advance toward Abidjan, the West African nation’s prized commercial center.

The fighting around the western city of Duekoue was among the heaviest yet for the French forces in the 3-month-old rebellion splitting this former French colony, the world’s largest cocoa producer and the region’s economic powerhouse.

The battle highlighted how the stepped-up French deployment may be decisive in stopping the rebel campaign to drive out President Laurent Gbagbo and seize the entire country.

The rebels have scored several days of success in their push south and east toward Abidjan. Controlling the city is the key to controlling Ivory Coast, one of Africa’s most vital economic hubs and ports. With so much at stake for the region if Ivory Coast falls into chaos, the French decided to take up their largest military role in years in their former colony.

As rebels seized the western city of Man on Thursday and pushed farther south Friday, French forces dug in at Duekoue, 210 miles northwest of Abidjan.

Fighters of the French Foreign Legion and other elite troops had set up positions with antitank missiles, rocket launchers and heavy machine guns outside Duekoue to stop any rebel advance -- calling their positions in the area the “stop point” for any insurgent drive on the commercial capital.

On Saturday, rebels moved to bypass the French. After fighting Ivory Coast government troops, the insurgents took the town of Blodi, just outside Duekoue, on a secondary road that would let them skirt the French position and push on to Abidjan.

French troops then entered the fighting. French Capt. Hubert Dunant said five to eight rebels were killed. The battle reached within half a mile of Duekoue. Sounds of guns and mortars sent civilians into hiding indoors. The French said they suffered no injuries.

Despite gains in the day, rebels pulled back eight miles north of Duekoue by nightfall, rebel commander Felix Doh said.

French forces, initially in Ivory Coast to protect foreign nationals and enforce a shattered cease-fire, have stepped up their role as the rebel challenge has grown. France plans to double its deployment to 2,500 by month’s end.