Residents of Ivory Coast's main city of Abidjan say there has been intense gunfire since early in the morning

There has been heavy gunfire in Ivory Coast's main city Abidjan where troops have been staging a mutiny.

Residents said they heard shots being exchanged from early in the morning, describing the gunfire as intense.

Clashes have also been reported in the country's second city, Bouake, where the mutiny began.

The Ivorian military chief of staff said on Sunday he had despatched an armoured column to Bouake to restore order.

The troops mutinied over unpaid bonuses which led to Bouake being sealed off. They said they would not lay down their weapons.

On Sunday, Ivory Coast's military said it had launched an operation to "restore order" after three consecutive days of protests by the mutinous soldiers.