Ouattara backed by African leaders

West African regional bloc Ecowas yesterday recognised Alassane Ouattara as president-elect of Ivory Coast and called on his rival Laurent Gbagbo to cede power immediately.

By The Newsroom

Published 7th Dec 2010, 16:00 BST

Updated 7th Dec 2010, 21:51 BST

The 15-nation body also said it had agreed to suspend Ivory Coast, after an emergency summit attended by regional heads of state in the Nigerian capital Abuja.