Ivorian crisis: African envoys met Gbagbo

African envoys in charge of finding a solution to the crisis in Côte d'Ivoire met Monday, January 3, Abidjan, Laurent Gbagbo, before a meeting with his rival, Alassane Ouattara, Gbagbo recognized by the international community. Kenyan Prime Minister Raila Odinga, sent by the African Union and President Boni Yayi (Benin), Ernest Koroma (Sierra Leone) and Pedro Pires (Cape Verde), mandated by the Economic Community of African States (ECOWAS), met for about two hours with Mr.

Gbagbo at the presidential palace. After the meeting, the President of Benin said: "We will come back," while Gbagbo acquiesce, smiling. The meeting was "useful," said the Prime Minister of Kenya, before a meeting with Mr. Ouattara emissaries to his headquarters. Ecowas has called in recent weeks Mr.

Gbagbo to step down and brandished the threat of military intervention, currently under preparation, if it does not bend to this injunction.

• ECOWAS to force Gbagbo out if... (01/01/2011)
• West African leaders threaten force in Ivory Coast (25/12/2010)
• African leaders to pressure Gbagbo to cede power (03/01/2011)
• West Africa delegation to confront Gbagbo (28/12/2010)
• I.Coast´s Gbagbo hangs tough as strike falls flat (27/12/2010)

Laurent Gbagbo (wikipedia)