In pictures: Ivory Coast's anger

1 of 9 The former rebels in Ivory Coast, known as the New Forces, declared a state of maximum alert last week, saying they feared an imminent attack by government troops.

2 of 9 Two key roads linking the rebel-held north of the country with the government-held south were blocked by the army on Sunday, hitting travellers and trade hard.

3 of 9 Despite being well armed, the New Forces have been unable to defend themselves against the sustained air strikes by government aircraft, which began on Thursday.

4 of 9 The UN peacekeepers deployed along the buffer zone, which has split the country since September 2002, do not have the mandate to stop planes.

5 of 9 News of the raids sparked demonstrations in the main city of Abidjan in support of the government offensive.

6 of 9 This poster carried by a Young Patriot, pro-government supporter reads: "We are ready to fight the rebellion".

7 of 9 While this banner says: "The rebels do not want to disarm, what are you the Fanci [government forces] doing?".

8 of 9 Groups of armed youths attacked buildings housing opposition parties and newspapers accused of supporting the former rebels.

9 of 9 "They looted all they could before setting fire to it. We called the fire fighters in vain for an hour," Amadou Coulibaly of the Rally for Republicans party told the AFP news agency.