Abidjan, Ivory Coast (CNN) -- Three representatives of the Economic Community of West African States and an African Union representative met twice Monday with self-declared Ivory Coast President Laurent Gbagbo in an attempt to persuade him to step down, but there was no indication late in the day that they were near their goal.

"We had a very fruitful meeting between all parties and in a good spirit," Sierra Leone President Ernest Bai Koroma told reporters after meeting with Gbagbo for a second time Monday in his residence here. "But the discussions are still underway." He said a full statement would be issued Tuesday, though there was no indication that further meetings would be held Tuesday.
The presidents of Benin, Sierra Leone and Cape Verde, and the African Union mediator -- Kenyan Prime Minister Raila Odinga -- also met with the man the international community recognizes as the winner, Alassane Ouattara. After the meeting, Ouattara told reporters that Gbagbo must leave immediately.

The African leaders then departed Abidjan. They had indicated they were planning to fly to Abuja, Nigeria, to consult with Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan on the matter.

An election observer in the Ivory Coast's November 28 election for the Carter Center offered a dour interpretation of Monday's events. "It doesn't look like he will take an offer from these leaders today, and that's a real problem, it's a tragedy," John Stremlau, told CNNI in a telephone interview. "He is being obstinate right now."

Laurent Gbagbo pressured to step down Tensions tighten in Ivory Coast Why U.S. presence in Ivory Coast? African reaction to Ivory Coast standoff

sincerenigerian:
I want to know how Jonathan led the overgtrow of Gbagbo. Is there any evidence to support that notion?

sincerenigerian:
I want to know how Jonathan led the overthrow of Gbagbo. Is there any evidence to support that notion?

Ivory Coast's internationally recognised president Alassane Ouattara on Friday met the Nigerian president to muster more diplomatic support in his bitter leadership dispute with rival Laurent Gbagbo.


Ivory Coast President, Alassane Ouattara (L) meets with Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan (R) in Abuja. Ivory Coast's internationally recognised president Alassane Ouattara was in Nigeria today to muster more diplomatic support in his bitter leadership dispute with rival Laurent Gbagbo.
Emerging from talks with Nigerian leader Goodluck Jonathan, Ouattara told reporters he had come to brief Jonathan on his meeting Thursday with an African Union panel of heads of states in the Ethiopian capital Addis Ababa.

Jonathan is chairman of the AU's Peace and Security Council.

After months of trying to broker a solution to the dispute between Ouattara, and the incumbent Gbagbo, who has refused to concede defeat, the AU on Thursday endorsed Ouattara as the elected president since the November 28 elections.

"The AU confirmed that I am the elected president of Cote d'Ivoire and so I have come to see my brother President Jonathan to thank him for his support," he said.

Jonathan is also the current head of the regional grouping ECOWAS, which has been outspoken in its support for Ouattara and which has threatened to use force if Gbagbo does not concede power to Ouattara.


Ivory Coast President, Alassane Ouattara (L) meets with Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan (R) in Abuja. Ivory Coast's internationally recognised president Alassane Ouattara was in Nigeria today to muster more diplomatic support in his bitter leadership dispute with rival Laurent Gbagbo.
The AU's endorsement of Ouattara's victory was immediately rejected by Gbagbo's camp, amid sporadic armed conflict in the west African country. Gbagbo himself did not attend the talks, only sending representatives.

Ouattara arrived Friday from Addis Ababa for a 48-hour stay in the Nigerian capital.

When he flew out of Ivory Coast, Gbagbo's camp issued a ban on all overflights and landings by United Nations and French forces, raising the question of whether Ouattara will be able to return to Abidjan.

But Nigeria's junior foreign minister assured reporters the Ivorian leader would be able to get back home safely.

"There are enough facilities put in place for his safe return to Cote d'Ivoire," Suleiman said.


A UN helicopter flies over Abobo, a suburb of Abidjan and a stronghold of internationally-recognized president Alassane Ouattara. Ivory Coast's internationally recognised president Alassane Ouattara on Friday met Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan to muster more diplomatic support in his bitter leadership dispute with rival Laurent Gbagbo.
It is Ouattara's first visit to regional powerhouse Nigeria, since the November presidential elections that the international community acknowledges he won.

As well as its key role in the African Union, Nigeria also currently holds the rotating chairmanship of the 15-nation Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).

But an ECOWAS spokesman said there were no talks lined up with officials from the Abuja-based ECOWAS secretariat.

In Addis Ababa, Ouattara said the AU panel handling the Ivory Coast crisis had asked him to form a broad government and to provide Gbagbo with an honourable exit.

"I'll put in place a government of national unity where all the major parties would (be) represented," Ouattara said Friday at a meeting with around 30 diplomats in Addis Ababa.


Debris of a damaged car shop remained on the ground in Abobo district in Abidjan. Ivory Coast's internationally recognised president Alassane Ouattara was in Nigeria Friday to muster more diplomatic support in his bitter leadership dispute with rival Laurent Gbagbo.
Hours after the AU's decision, heavy fighting broke out in Tiebissou, a town near the line that divides zones controlled by the country's rival factions and near Ivory Coast's political capital Yamoussoukro.

Former rebels of the New Forces (FN), who have controlled the northern half of the country since a foiled coup in 2002, denied any part in the clashes at Tiebissou.

The head of the UN mission in Ivory Coast (ONUCI) said Friday that the country's crisis was nearing its end.

"I have never doubted that the will of the people would prevail at the end and the end will arrive sooner than foreseen," Choi Young-jin said.

He also suggested that Gbagbo might have lost control of his troops.

But on Thursday, UN human rights chief Navi Pillay expressed alarm over the deteriorating crisis. According to UN figures, post-election unrest has left 392 people dead, including 27 in the past week.

The AU's Peace and Security Council will meet again on March 24 in Abuja to discuss how to implement its endorsement of Ouattara, a decision that is meant to be binding.

suwailad:
@ikengawo

there is no vacancy in aso rock

[size=50pt]NO VACANCY[/size]

OrlandoOwoh:
It was some countries in Europe and the US, led by France.

Ikengawo:


yes

[size=15pt]I. Coast's Ouattara seeks diplomatic backing in Nigeria[/size]

http://www.alternet.org/rss/breaking_news/515568/i._coast%27s_ouattara_seeks_diplomatic_backing_in_nigeria

anonimi:



..............facilitated by Nigeria under the able leadership of dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan as duly acknowledged by the Ivorians and shared on this thread.

Do you know better than the citizens of Ivory Coast
Make you nor let hate and over sabi kill you oh!

Splashme:
[size=16pt]Dele Momodu and his likes will be shocked by March 28[/size]

OrlandoOwoh:
It is unfortunate that Jonathan wants to follow the path of Gbagbo.

sincerenigerian:
I want to know how Jonathan led the overthrow of Gbagbo. Is there any evidence to support that notion?

IGNORE THEM JOOOR.

@IKENGAWO

This is a case where the doctor has become the patient.... GEJ has caught the disesae.... He should be quarantined

sincerenigerian:
I want to know how Jonathan led the overthrow of Gbagbo. Is there any evidence to support that notion?

IGNORE THEM JOOOR.

@IKENGAWO

This is a case where the doctor has become the patient.... GEJ has caught the disease.... He should be quarantined immediately