IVORY Coast’s Laurent Gbagbo was negotiating the terms of his departure from power last night following a fierce assault by forces loyal to his presidential rival backed by UN and French helicopter airstrikes.

AT LEAST 14,000 people have fled the violence and political chaos in Ivory Coast, some walking for up to four days with little food to reach neighbouring Liberia, the UN refugee agency said. At least one child drowned while trying to cross a river.

The man who refuses to leave Ivory Coast's presidency faced new threats to his grasp on power after regional leaders threatened to remove him by force if necessary.