20101228
africanews

A three-member delegation from the Economic Community of West African States [ECOWAS] are due in West African nation of Ivory Coast on Tuesday to counsel embattled president Laurent Gbagbo to cede power to his opponent Alassane Ouattara.

The delegation is made up of the leaders from Sierra Leone, Cape Verde and Benin. ECOWAS leaders have served notice to Gbagbo to hand over power peacefully or to be removed forcefully .

The demand was made late Friday but he has shown no interest in doing so, while doubts exist about whether the region could carry out such a military operation, residents remain fearful.

The U.N. declared that Alassane Ouattara won the presidential runoff election held exactly a month ago, but Gbagbo refuses to concede defeat and leave despite admonitions from the U.N., United States, European Union and the African Union.

In an interview with Associated Press Television News on Sunday, Gbagbo said he was not concerned about world opinion, insisting he was duly elected. He said of his detractors: "Maybe they do not want me, I admit it, but I am not looking to be loved by them. I respect and abide by the Ivorians' vote."