Ouattara calls for action on Ivory Coast

Abidjan, 21 Jan – (ANA) - Tougher action, possibly including force, is the only way to make Ivory Coast incumbent Laurent Gbagbo step down after mediation failed, rival presidential claimant Alassane Ouattara said on yesterday.

But Ouattara stressed in an interview that international economic sanctions should target only Gbagbo and his allies rather than the civilian population of the world's top cocoa grower, which is gripped by a violent power struggle between them.

Separately, West African military chiefs said they were on standby if called -- although neighbouring countries appear a long way from agreement on using force to oust Gbagbo after a November 28 election which U.N.-certified results show he lost.

"Everyone realises that the only solution is to make Mr Laurent Gbagbo leave with other measures, including force," Ouattara said, a day after the latest African mediation efforts led by Kenyan premier Raila Odinga collapsed. (ANA)

FA/ANA/21 January 2011-------