WASHINGTON, April 5 (UPI) -- Mass violence in Ivory Coast could've been prevented if Laurent Gbagbo listened to the pleas of the international community, the U.S. president said Tuesday.
Gbagbo is reportedly in talks with French authorities to negotiate his surrender. U.N. peacekeepers supported by the French military pounded the commercial capital Abidjan, forcing the embattled leader to an underground bunker.
Gbagbo refuses to stand down despite international recognition that rival Alassane Ouattara won a November presidential election meant to unite a country divided in 2002 by civil war.
U.S. President Barack Obama in a statement Tuesday said a crisis could've been averted if Gbagbo listened to world leaders.
"Tragically, the violence that we are seeing could have been averted had Laurent Gbagbo respected the results of last year's presidential election," he said. "To end this violence and prevent more bloodshed, former President Gbagbo must stand down immediately, and direct those who are fighting on his behalf to lay down their arms."
The International Crisis Group warned recently that conflict in Ivory Coast bore the hallmarks of civil war. Juan Mendez, the U.N. special envoy on torture, said the situation there was "very serious" and the International Committee of the Red Cross said an attack on a church last week left hundreds dead.
"We hope to see a swift resolution of the crisis and for President Ouattara take up the office to which he has been democratically elected," added British Foreign Secretary William Hague.
