Odinga hints at talks between Ivory Coast rivals

Abidjan, 18 Jan – (ANA) - The mediator in Ivory Coast's crisis Kenyan Prime Minister Raila Odinga hinted on Monday at possible direct talks between the country's rival presidents to end a violent post-election power struggle.

Odinga spoke at the presidential palace, where incumbent Laurent Gbagbo is still clinging to power after a disputed November 28 election he is widely recognised to have lost.

A spokesman for Gbagbo's rival Alassane Ouattara, who has been internationally recognised as president-elect but remains trapped at a U.N.-guarded hotel, said talks would never happen until Gbagbo steps down.

"We have had very useful discussions with President Gbagbo. We have proposed meetings which we have agreed will take place from tomorrow," Odinga told journalists after meeting Gbagbo.

"This is of course something with certain conditions to be fulfilled. We are going now to have discussions with President Ouattara and put to them what we have agreed with this other side. If those terms are accepted, then the meetings will take place tomorrow." (ANA)

FA/ANA/18 January 2011-----