Ivory Coast's Laurent Gbagbo has agreed to further talks to end the country's political crisis and has pledged to lift a blockade on rival Alassane Ouattara's headquarters, West African regional bloc ECOWAS said on Tuesday. West African leaders had initially handed Gbagbo an ultimatum to leave or face military force, but now appear faced with open-ended negotiations with the incumbent leader who world powers and African neighbours say lost last month's presidential election to Ouattara.
"Mr Laurent Gbagbo agreed to negotiate a peaceful end to the crisis without any preconditions. He also pledged to immediately lift the blockade around Hotel Du Golf, the temporary headquarters of Mr Alassane Ouattara, the President-elect," ECOWAS said in a communique.
A peaceful or swift resolution to Ivory Coast's post-election crisis remained unlikely as Gbagbo's rivals have refused to negotiate unless he steps down and recognises Ouattara as president, a demand Gbagbo has rejected. Leaders of West African regional bloc ECOWAS and the African Union met both men on Monday and failed to convince Gbagbo to cede power to Ouattara. ECOWAS said Ouattara had "indicated his willingness to ensure a dignified exit" for Gbagbo, provided he accepted that he had lost the polls.
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