20110524
press TV
Ivory Coast's President Alassane Ouattara has warned neighboring countries that mercenaries may threaten the security of West Africa.

In an interview with state-funded BBC, Ouattara said that foreign fighters and mercenaries loyal to his predecessor Laurent Gbagbo have fled to neighboring Liberia after losing power in the country.

He further pointed out that the fighters would probably move on to Sierra Leone and Guinea, posing what he called a threat to the region.

Liberia and Sierra Leone are emerging from their own long civil wars, while Guinea remains fragile after years of military rule.

"So we have to consider this a regional problem, and give it a regional solution," the Ivorian president noted.

Ouattara was sworn in as president of Ivory Coast on Saturday.

His inauguration followed months of violence and political turmoil that claimed hundreds of civilian lives.

Ouattara won the November presidential election but his rival Gbagbo refused to give up power.

Gbagbo was forced to leave office after a military raid on his compound with the assistance of French and UN troops.