Soldiers loyal to Cote d'Ivoire presidential claimant Alassane Ouattara ride a vehicle toward the frontline from the northern outskirts of the main city Abidjan April 10, 2011. [Photo/Agencies]

ABIDJAN - Heavy gunfire erupted again on Monday morning between forces loyal to Cote d'Ivoire's rival presidential claimants in Abidjan, the largest city of the West African country.

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Cote d'Ivoire's incumbent Laurent Gbagbo is scrambling to maintain resistance in the swathes left under his control with 1,000 or so fighters still loyal to him launching counter-attacks in the past days.

The renewed fighting followed the strike by UN and French helicopters on Sunday at his residence, the center of his resistance in northern Abidjan.

The UN peacekeeping mission said the airstrike aimed to destroy heavy weapons inside or outside the compound of Gbagbo's residence.

In a bid to show their continued resistance in the city, Gbagbo's forces attacked the Golf Hotel over the weekend, the headquarters of his presidential rival Alassane Ouattara, who is internationally recognized as the president.

The mortar shelling came in response to Ouattara's announcement of a blockade around Gbagbo's residence and a series of measures to restore normal life in the war-torn city and the country.

Gbagbo is cornered after swift military advances by the rival Republican Forces, which entered Abidjan a week ago to attack his last fortress.

The war broke out amid the political standoff in which both Gbagbo and Ouattara claimed victory after the Nov 28 presidential run-off. The international community including the United Nations and the African Union recognizes Ouattara as the president-elect, while Gbagbo rejects the mounting pressure to hand over power.

The armed conflict is the second after the 2002-2003 civil war, which divided the country into the south controlled by Gbagbo's government and the north held by the ex-rebel New Forces, the backbone of the newly formed Republican Forces.