The two candidates in Ivory Coast’s disputed presidential election both took oaths of office today after each claimed victory as the political crisis spiralled out of control.

Ivory Coast’s opposition declared it will no longer recognise Laurent Gbagbo as president – a move likely to complicate his efforts to form a new government, after he dissolved the old one along with the West African country’s electoral commission.

AN inquiry has been opened into Sunday’s tragedy at the Felix Houphouet-Boigny stadium which left 19 dead and 132 injured.

Ivory Coast rebels have reached a deal with the government in which their leader will become prime minister as part of a peace plan.

Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo arrived in Ivory Coast today on a mission to help resolve the war-divided West African nation’s latest crisis.

A UN delegation met former Ivory Coast rebels in their central stronghold Bouake at the weekend to discuss issues preventing the rebels from returning to the unity government they quit in September, UN sources said yesterday.

Ivory Coast peace talks opened today near Paris with numerous obstacles to ending months of bloody clashes.