Forces backing internationally recognised Ivory Coast president Alassane Ouattara have entered the town of San Pedro, which holds the world's largest cocoa exporting port, residents said.
"They have entered the town, they are firing heavy weapons downtown," a resident told AFP by telephone.
"There was an exchange of fire in the northern entry a little after 10:00pm. Intense shooting quickly spread throughout the centre," said another resident.
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Earlier Wednesday, the pro-Ouattara fighters, sweeping rapidly south in an offensive to wrest control from Laurent Gbagbo who refuses to cede power after a disputed election, seized the political capital Yamoussoukro.
Hit by fresh UN sanctions on Wednesday, the grip is tightening around Gbagbo's regime as his rival's forces move ever closer to the economic capital Abidjan, the seat of his power.
Three hours after announcing Gbagbo would be addressing the nation, a highly awaited speech promised more than two weeks ago, his spokesman announced late Wednesday that the address has been postponed.
Spokesman Ahoua Don Mello made a very brief appearance on state television RTI, saying Gbagbo was following the situation in the country closely and "has postponed his address to the nation to a later time."
A disputed November election, which Ouattara is widely recognised as having won, has plunged the country into conflict as Gbagbo stubbornly clings to power.
Ouattara's camp, weary with failed diplomatic efforts, has declared all peaceful solutions "exhausted."
"Gbagbo has only a few hours to leave, otherwise we will march on Abidjan and it will become a lot more complicated for him," Ouattara's prime minister Guillaume Soro told France24 on Wednesday evening.
