Senegalese President Abdoulaye Wade (centre), flanked by Burkina Faso’s President Blaise Compaore (left) and Nigeria’s President Goodluck Jonathan arrives for an emergency summit of the 15-member Economic Community of West African States on the political crisis in Cote d’Ivoire in Abuja on Friday. PIUS UTOMI EKPEI | NATIONWest African Leaders Hold Emergency Meeting On Ivory Coast -- CNN
(CNN) -- West African leaders were huddling in Nigeria on Friday over how best to defuse an escalating crisis in Ivory Coast, where President Laurent Gbagbo refuses to concede power.
The 15-member Economic Community of West African States has already urged Gbagbo to acknowledge the results of a presidential election and hand over power to his challenger, Alassane Ouattara.
But Gbagbo continues to defy international criticism of his legitimacy and many in the region fear the political turmoil could spark another civil war in Ivory Coast.
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More News On The Crisis In The Ivory Coast
West African leaders meet on Ivory Coast crisis -- Yahoo News/Reuters
West African Leaders Hold Second Emergency Meeting On Ivory Coast Crisis -- Voice of America
West African leaders hold talks to end the crisis in Cote d’Ivoire -- Daily Nation
West African states hold emergency talks on Côte d’Ivoire -- RFI
Ivory Coast's Gbagbo loses access to state funds -- Yahoo News/AP
West Africa's Central Bank Recognizes Ouattara as President of Ivory Coast -- Bloomberg
Bank freezes Ivorian leader's funds -- Al Jazeera
Laurent Gbagbo denied access to Ivory Coast state funds -- BBC
Ivory Coast: U.N. Recognizes New President -- New York Times
UN backs Cote d'Ivoire's Ouattara -- Al Jazeera (Video)
US reiterates call for Gbagbo to step down -- AFP
UN Seeks End To Ivorian Political Carnage -- RTT News
Opposition to UN Force in Ivory Coast Grows, Staff Turned Away by Vendors -- Bloomberg
U.S. human rights official, others condemn post-election violence in Ivory Coast -- Washington Post
Ivory Coast state TV goes off air outside Abidjan -- BBC
COTE D'IVOIRE: The UN's mission impossible? -- IRIN
Why foreign forces are unlikely to intervene in Ivory Coast -- Christian Science Monitor