20110502
reuters

KORHOGO, Ivory Coast (Reuters) - Ivory Coast's deposed former leader Laurent Gbagbo urged supporters on Monday to drop political quarrels for now and help the West African country revive its economy in peace.

Gbagbo was ousted from power on April 11 by forces loyal to his successor Alassane Ouattara, backed by French and U.N. troops deployed to help end a four-month power struggle that killed thousands.

His supporters, some of them armed, have continued to battle government forces in pro-Gbagbo areas of the main city Abidjan.

"I insist that there be an economic and security revival, and after that we can talk about politics," he told a news conference in a presidential residence in the northern city of Korhogo where he is under house arrest.

The bloody political crisis in the world's top cocoa grower nation paralyzed the economy and froze exports from late-January, driving cocoa futures prices to record highs. Exporters expect shipments to resume within days.

South Africa's Archbishop Desmond Tutu, part of a delegation meeting Gbagbo that also included former U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan and former Irish President Mary Robinson, said he was heartened by the comments.

"We are very, very pleased that the former president wants to see his country return to normality," Tutu said.

Gbagbo, who had refused to quit after a November 28 election, appeared relaxed, wearing a light blue shirt and dark pants. Security around the compound was light, a Reuters witness said.