Ivorian security forces have attacked the headquarters of a party backing incumbent President Laurent Gbagbo's main rival, Alassane Ouattara, Press TV reported.
At least one person was killed and eight others injured, including seven police officers, with 130 suspects detained in a raid carried out at about 5:30 a.m. on Tuesday, the Associated Press reported.
The Ivory Coast Democratic Party backed Ouattara in the disputed presidential election that sparked political crisis in the African country.
The party's headquarters came under attack on allegations of hiding arms inside the compound.
UN Human Rights Division Director Simon Munzu has reported that their investigation of the incident has been blocked as security forces have not allowed them to enter the building.
Gbagbo's Minister for Youths Charles Ble Goude had earlier threatened to attack Ouattara's hotel, guarded by 800 UN peacekeepers, and dismissed the idea of providing "a chance for more negotiations."
Diplomatic efforts to resolve the deadlock by convincing Gbagbo to peacefully cede power to Ouattara, who is recognized as the winner of the vote by the international community, have all been in vain.
Kenya's Prime Minister Raila Odinga, Presidents Boni Yayi of Benin, Ernest Koroma of Sierra Leone and Pedro Pires of Cape Verde, representing the African Union and the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), met with Gbagbo on Monday.
They have returned unsuccessful as Gbagbo has reiterated that he will reject any call to step down.
Military chiefs of the 15-nation ECOWAS have threatened to oust Gbagbo by force in case of his resistance to hand over presidency to Ouattara.
Gbagbo has cautioned that any attempt to remove him from power by force could lead to another civil war in the country.
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