Ivorian president to attend talks on transition

Ivory Coast President Laurent Gbagbo will attend a West African summit to discuss how to govern the war-divided country until long-delayed elections can be held, a spokesman says.

Tension has risen as foes bicker over how the world's top cocoa grower, divided into a rebel-held north and government south since a 2002/03 civil war, should be run after a United Nations-backed transition expires on October 31.

The year-long transition was put in place last October after elections were postponed.

It kept Mr Gbagbo in power for a further 12 months, flanked by a consensus prime minister with extra powers to organise a vote within that time.

Elections are set to be missed for the second time, as political squabbling and violent protests have continued to thwart the peace process.

Mr Gbagbo boycotted a meeting on the fringes of the UN General Assembly in New York last month, but a spokesman said he would attend a summit of fellow heads of state from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and the main Ivorian factions in the Nigerian capital Abuja on Friday.

"He will be there," Mr Gbagbo's spokesman Desire Tagro told Reuters by telephone.

Last weekend Mr Gbagbo bluntly rejected foreign mediation efforts saying he would not comply with measures dictated by outsiders.

Analysts expect the leaders will try to erode his powers and strengthen the mandate of the premier.

Citing the constitution, he says he remains the country's lawful leader until an elected successor is named but rebel and opposition sides reject any further extension of his mandate and are calling for him to stand down.

- Reuters