KINSHASA (Reuter) - Forces backing Congo President Pascal Lissouba have repulsed an attempt by a rival militia to take Brazzaville's airport, residents said on Wednesday. They said state television showed pictures of ethnic militia loyal to Lissouba celebrating at the international airport after a day of intense battles on Tuesday. The airport remained shut on Thursday. Cobra militia fighters of former military ruler Denis Sassou Nguesso have been locked in conflict with Lissouba's forces, who include government troops, since June 5. Residents said Cobras had targeted three main areas of the capital after threatening on Tuesday to attack the city's government-held southern districts. A Russian-made combat helicopter was used by Lissouba's forces on Tuesday night to bombard positions in the city centre taken by Cobras earlier in the day, they added. Intense artillery battles resumed on Wednesday, and clouds of smoke rising from an area behind the presidency in Brazzaville were visible from Kinshasa, capital of Democratic Republic of the Congo across the River Congo. Relief workers said shells had hit the Bacongo and Makelekele districts in the south which have previously been largely spared the fighting. Thousands of people were on Tuesday evening preparing to flee the area, they said. Fighting erupted in early June after Lissouba sent troops to surround the residence of his arch-rival Sassou in a bid to seize illegal weapons prior to presidential elections.

The elections scheduled for July 27 have since been derailed by the conflict. International and national attempts at brokering a peace agreement between the two long standing enemies have so far proved fruitless.