20101219
reuters

ABIDJAN (Reuters) - The government of Ivory Coast's incumbent President Laurent Gbagbo on Saturday told the United Nations and French peacekeeping missions to leave, escalating a dispute over last month's elections.

Both the U.N. and former colonial power France have called on Gbagbo to concede defeat in a November 28 poll, meant to heal the wounds of the West African state's 2002-03 civil war but which has instead reopened them.

"The government demands the departure of the UNOCI and LICORNE forces in Ivory Coast and is opposed to any renewal of their mandate," said spokeswoman Jacqueline Oble, reading a statement over state television.

"UNOCI has interfered seriously in the internal affairs of Ivory Coast," she said.

The country has been in turmoil since Gbagbo claimed victory in the election with backing from the nation's top legal body, rejecting as fraudulent results showing he lost by nearly 8 percentage points to rival Alassane Ouattara.

The dispute turned bloody last week as pro-Ouattara marchers clashed with security forces, leaving at least 20 people dead on Thursday. Former rebels supporting Ouattara also briefly exchanged fire with government soldiers.

U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, who has recognised Ouattara as the winner of the election, warned last week of the potential for a resumption of civil war and called on all sides to avoid moves that could trigger further violence.

The United States, France and the European Union have heaped diplomatic pressure on Gbagbo in recent days to step down, threatening sanctions if he does not do so within days.