Fighters backing internationally recognized Ivory Coast president Alassane Ouattara seize control of San Pedro, the world’s biggest cocoa exporting port.

Fighters backing internationally recognized Ivory Coast president Alassane Ouattara on Thursday seized control of San Pedro, the world's biggest cocoa exporting port, residents said.

They took over in the early hours of the morning after sweeping southwards from their strongholds in the north over the past week, seizing several other towns that had been in control of Laurent Gbagbo, who refuses to cede power.

"They have total control of the town since 4am," a resident in San Pedro said.

"They launched an offensive between 10pm and 1am and afterwards they carried out searches. Currently they are patrolling the town on board 4x4's armed with Kalashnikovs and launch-rockets."

"They control the port, all the strategic sectors of the town," he added.

Alassane Dramane Ouattara (left) - Laurent Gbagbo (right)

The pro-Ouattara fighters met with local government authorities late Wednesday, an official said.

"They came to pay a visit at the home of the prefect and assured us they were there for the security of the town," said the official from the prefecture.

Witnesses reported militia supporting Gbagbo had looted several businesses and burned a police station after stealing weapons.

Meanwhile, the African Union has asked Ouattara to form a unity government with Gbagbo's political party members.

However, Ouattara's camp, weary of four months' of fruitless diplomatic initiatives, declared all peaceful solutions "exhausted" as they launched their offensive on Monday.

Laurent Gbagbo still holds the former capital, Abidjan, as his supporters continue to attack civilians in the largest city in the country.

Ivorian youth are reportedly being enlisted in the army to replace soldiers that have defected.

UNSC
The United Nations Security Council unanimously voted to impose sanctions against Gbagbo on Wednesday due to his refusal to cede power to the president-elect Ouattara in a bid to end the growing violence in Ivory Coast.

The sanctions include travel bans and asset freezes targeting Gbagbo, his wife, and three of his closest allies. This comes after pro-Ouattara forces seized control of the capital, Yamoussoukro.

The final draft of the Council's resolution urges an end to the violence against civilians and also requires all Ivorian parties to respect people's will of electing Ouattara as their president.

Ivory Coast is the world's top cocoa producer and exporter, but the industry has been strangled by international sanctions trying to choke off Gbagbo's economic power and force him to step down from the presidency.

Gbagbo and his rival, Ouattara, have been locked in a standoff since the presidential elections in November.

Tensions further escalated after they both claimed victory and appointed separate cabinets.

The disputed presidential election has raised the risk of a long power struggle that could trigger another civil war in the country.

The United Nations has recently warned of a civil war if the situation continues to deteriorate.