Cote d’Ivoire deadlock deepens as rivals name governments

Political unrest in Cote d’Ivoire escalated Monday after incumbent Laurent Gbagbo named his prime minister and challenger Alassane Ouattara announced his cabinet. There are renewed fears of a civil war as international mediators look to settle the standoff.

Reuters/Thierry Gouegnon

Both rivals have sworn themselves in as president despite mediation attempts by South Africa's former president, Thabo Mbeki, who was sent by the 53-member African Union.

Gbagbo, 65, has defied international calls to cede power after the United Nations recognised Ouattara as the winner of the 28 November runoff vote.

But after Mbeki held emergency talks with the two men on Sunday, Ouattara called on him to demand that Gbagbo step down.

Gbagbo, who is backed by the country’s Constitutional Commission, later issued a rival presidential decree naming Gilbert Marie N'gbo Ake as his new prime minister.

The political crisis "is obviously very serious", Mbeki told reporters after the talks.

"Among other things, it's important not to have violence, not to return to war and so on, to find a peaceful solution."

An AU source said Mbeki stayed the night in Abidjan and further meetings were likely on Monday morning.

Hundreds of people fearing violence meanwhile began crossing west from parts of the country controlled by Ouattara's supporters, and into neighbouring Liberia.

This is despite an earlier order by Gbagbo for all borders to be sealed.