"General Mangou is still at the ambassador's residence. There is very little I can tell now, there is nothing new," said Clayson Monyela.

Mangou, a key ally of strongman president Laurent Gbagbo, on Wednesday fled with his wife and five children to the home of Pretoria's envoy Zodwa Lallie, as forces aligned with the UN-recognised leader Alassane Ouattara moved into the main city Abidjan.

"I can't say how long he will remain there," said Monyela.

Early Friday, gunfire erupted around the home of under-siege Gbagbo and the presidential palace, while forces loyal to Ouattara seized control of the country's RTI state television.

Mangou is seen as a moderate in Ivory Coast's current crisis, which erupted when Gbagbo refused to cede defeat to Ouattara following November elections.