Ivory Coast: Ouattara calls for sanctions to be lifted

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Source: Reuters

Ivory Coast's internationally recognised president Alassane Ouattara has called for an end to sanctions and sought to return the war-torn country to normal, despite a continuing military standoff with incumbent Laurent Gbagbo.

UN-backed Ouattara said his forces had blockaded Gbagbo in the presidential residence in Abidjan and he had asked the European Union to lift sanctions on the main ports of the world's top cocoa producer.

With Gbagbo refusing to step down, Ouattara, who the UN says won a presidential election meant to draw a line under Ivory Coast's 2002-3 civil war, took the first steps towards assuming executive powers in a televised address on Thursday.

He promised to restore security and utilities, meet basic needs and pay salaries after five months of conflict which has killed thousands of people and left residents of what was once West Africa's most prosperous country without food and water.

Read more: http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/apr/08/ivory-coast-ouattara-end-eu-sanctions