20110129
reuters

ADDIS ABABA (Reuters) - Africa and the international community must stand firm against efforts by Ivory Coast's incumbent leader Laurent Gbagbo to cling onto power, United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has said.

Speaking to African leaders and top African Union (AU) officials at an African Union summit late on Saturday, Ban rejected Gbagbo's offer of a recount of votes to solve a persistent leadership crisis.

Both the United Nations and AU recognise Gbagbo's challenger Alassane Ouattara as the president-elect of the world's biggest cocoa producing country.

"We must preserve our unified position, act together, and stand firm against Mr Gbagbo's attempt to hang onto power through the use of force," Ban was quoted as telling the meeting in a statement issued on Sunday.

Ban said in Davos on Friday that he was concerned about splits in African efforts to end the crisis.

Within the next 24 hours the AU summit in Ethiopia's capital is expected to name a panel of five African leaders tasked with finding a legally binding settlement to break the deadlock.

The pan-African body says it is resolute on finding a "political, peaceful and negotiated settlement" to the Ivorian crisis, but it has not ruled out using force as a last resort.

"We have an obligation to remain firm ... and to signal to Africa's people that our commitment to our principles is real," said Ban.