ECOWAS Delegation to Meet UN, US Leaders Over Ivory Coast
Officials from the Economic Community of West African States are in the United States calling for international support to help resolve the current political stalemate in the Ivory Coast.
The delegation, which includes Sierra Leone President Ernest Bai Koroma, is scheduled to meet with members of the U.N. Security Council Thursday following a talks with U.S. President Barack Obama.
Sonny Ugoh, an official with the regional bloc, ECOWAS, told VOA that they will continue seeking new ways to resolve the crisis. He said the regional body wants to ensure that Allassane Ouattara, the internationally recognized winner of Ivory Coast's November presidential election, takes office despite the refusal of incumbent President Laurent Gbagbo to step down.
Mr. Ouattara is conducting his struggle to take office from a hotel in Abidjan, where he is surrounded by security forces and United Nations peacekeepers.
On Wednesday, Mr. Ouattara's prime minister, Guillaume Soro, said that a targeted military strike would be the best way to remove Mr. Gbagbo.
Earlier in the day, Mr. Gbagbo said he was seizing control of Ivorian branches of the West African central bank, in an attempt to retain control of state finances.
In a counter move, Mr. Ouattara has ordered Ivorian branches of the regional bank to be closed. He has vowed to prosecute anyone who follows Mr. Gbagbo's orders.
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