Ivory Coast presidential claimant calls for general strike
Ivory Coast presidential claimant Alassane Ouattara has called for a nationwide generalstrike from Monday to paralyse the country until internationally isolated incumbent Laurent Gbagbo cedes power.
The world's top cocoa producing country has faced a violent political impasse since a presidential election last month, which was intended to heal the scars of a 2002-2003 civil war but has instead triggered bloodshed between the rival camps.
The U.N. estimates at least 173 people have been killed in violence over the vote, and 14,000 have fled the country.
Allies of Ouattara have called for a nationwide general strike in the latest form of pressure to try to force Gbagbo from the presidency. Gbagbo has refused to leave despite international calls for his ouster.
The West African economic bloc ECOWAS has threatened military intervention if Gbagbo does not step down. The presidents of Benin, Cape Verde and Sierra Leone are due to arrive in Ivory Coast on Tuesday to present the ECOWAS ultimatum to Gbagbo.
Listen to report by Kelsea Brennan-Wessels:
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