Ivory Coast President Alassane Ouattara yesterday faced the challenge of healing a divided nation, vowing justice, reconciliation and security after his forces captured rival Laurent Gbagbo.
"I ask you to remain calm and show restraint," Ouattara, the 69-year-old elected leader of the west African nation, said in a televised address late Monday, while hailing "the dawn of a new era of hope".
He also announced "legal proceedings against Laurent Gbagbo, his wife and his allies", adding that "all measures are being taken" to protect them following their dramatic capture after a four-month long crisis.
Gbagbo, his wife Simone and son Michel are being held at Ouattara's temporary headquarters at an Abidjan hotel, where they are being guarded by UN police amid fears of reprisals or summary justice.
The UN has said that at least 800 people have been confirmed killed in the conflict between the rival camps following the November election.
Meanwhile, clashes involving heavy weapons erupted in two districts of Ivory Coast's commercial capital Abidjan loyal to former president Laurent Gbagbo one day after he was captured, witnesses told AFP.
The weapons were heard in the central Plateau district and in the northern Cocody area as forces loyal to Gbabo's rival, President Alassane Ouattara, struggled to return security to the city after 10 days of fighting.
The European Union said it would work with Ouattara's government to remove all sanctions imposed to pressure Gbagbo to step down.
European foreign ministers are meeting in Luxembourg yesterday, with the situation in Ivory Coast high on their agenda.
The ministers are expected to adopt a statement voicing support for Ouattara's reconciliation efforts and to pledge to help Ivory Coast overcome the humanitarian crisis brought on by the presidential stand-off.
French Foreign Minister Alain Juppe, whose country has been at pains to deny it is playing a neo-colonial role in its former dominion, said that Gbagbo's capture was good news for African democracy.
France said its military had taken part in the weekend raids at the UN chief's request.
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