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| Africa leaders seek Ivorian peace | Africa leaders seek Ivorian peace |
| (40 minutes later) | |
| West African leaders are meeting in Nigeria to discuss the crisis in Ivory Coast, where elections due this month have been postponed. | West African leaders are meeting in Nigeria to discuss the crisis in Ivory Coast, where elections due this month have been postponed. |
| A BBC correspondent in Ivory Coast says the key issue is whether President Laurent Gbagbo's mandate in renewed. | A BBC correspondent in Ivory Coast says the key issue is whether President Laurent Gbagbo's mandate in renewed. |
| The president is seen as the biggest obstacle to peace by the international community, our correspondent says. | The president is seen as the biggest obstacle to peace by the international community, our correspondent says. |
| Rebels have controlled northern Ivory Coast since 2003 years and a national unity government has not brought peace. | Rebels have controlled northern Ivory Coast since 2003 years and a national unity government has not brought peace. |
| Threat | Threat |
| Ecowas head and Niger President Mamadou Tandja said the problems were so profound that "new" ideas were needed. | |
| "We have to explore new avenues, new and innovative solutions in order to end this crisis which has caused enough suffering to the people of Ivory Coast," he told the meeting. | |
| "The task is far from being easy in light of the complexity of the situation and of the profound disagreements between the parties, whose excesses can only lead them further away from the path of peace and national reconciliation." | |
| President Gbagbo believes the constitution authorises him to stay in office until elections can be held. | President Gbagbo believes the constitution authorises him to stay in office until elections can be held. |
| But New Forces rebels, as well as the unarmed opposition, say they will no longer accept President Gbagbo as head of state. | But New Forces rebels, as well as the unarmed opposition, say they will no longer accept President Gbagbo as head of state. |
| The BBC's James Copnall in Ivory Coast says the international community broadly believes President Gbagbo should stay on but wants to give most of his powers to internationally appointed Prime Minister Charles Konan Banny. | The BBC's James Copnall in Ivory Coast says the international community broadly believes President Gbagbo should stay on but wants to give most of his powers to internationally appointed Prime Minister Charles Konan Banny. |
| This meeting of the regional body Ecowas is crucial because the African Union and the United Nations Security Council - which has the final say - are likely to follow the West Africans' recommendation, our correspondent says. | This meeting of the regional body Ecowas is crucial because the African Union and the United Nations Security Council - which has the final say - are likely to follow the West Africans' recommendation, our correspondent says. |
| This week the head of President Gbagbo's party told West African leaders that they must remember that millions of their citizens live in Ivory Coast. | This week the head of President Gbagbo's party told West African leaders that they must remember that millions of their citizens live in Ivory Coast. |
| This apparent threat drew a sharp rebuke from the UN Secretary General Kofi Annan among others. | This apparent threat drew a sharp rebuke from the UN Secretary General Kofi Annan among others. |
| But it is unlikely that the West African presidents will not be worried about the consequences of any statement they might make, our correspondent says. | But it is unlikely that the West African presidents will not be worried about the consequences of any statement they might make, our correspondent says. |
| President Gbagbo's supporters - known as the Young Patriots - have attacked West Africans, the French and the UN in the past. | President Gbagbo's supporters - known as the Young Patriots - have attacked West Africans, the French and the UN in the past. |