IVORY COAST’S internationally recognised president called yesterday for a bloodless raid by west African special forces to snatch defiant strongman Laurent Gbagbo and “take him elsewhere” amid fears of civil war.

A leading ally of the man widely recognised as Ivory Coast’s new president said today that incumbent Laurent Gbagbo is using stalling tactics to stay in power and urged the international community to intervene with “legitimate force” to remove him.

FEARS of a regional military intervention grew yesterday in Ivory Coast following a threat from West African neighbours to force out incumbent leader Laurent Gbagbo if he does not soon heed international calls to step down from power.

Allies of the man who the world says won Ivory Coast's disputed presidential election called for a immediate general strike from today until his defiant rival conceded defeat and left office.

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.

Ivory Coast state television disappeared from the airwaves outside the nation's largest city, in a blow to the incumbent president's attempts to cling to power in the bloody aftermath of an election most of the world says he lost.

Angry youths took to the streets in Ivory Coast’s main city Abidjan, burning tyres, hurling chunks of concrete and tearing down billboards after election results were reversed.

BRAZIL midfielder Gilberto Silva has admitted he is wary of the threat the Ivory Coast possess ahead of tomorrow’s Group G clash.

Ivory Coast are anxiously awaiting the results of tests on Didier Drogba after the striker suffered an injury during today’s friendly with Japan in Sion.

The World Cup ’Group of Death’ reared its ugly head this afternoon – and left Brazil facing a tough task to progress to the knockout stage in South Africa next year.

Holland 2 Ivory Coast 1

Angola coach Luis Oliveira Goncalves believes Africa can still succeed in the 2006 World Cup and thinks his team have the ability to claim what could be the first victory for the continent against Mexico in Group D today.

Egypt 0 Ivory Coast 0 (Egypt win 4-2 on penalties)

Ivory Coast 0 Egypt 0 (Egypt win 4-2 on penalties)

The French defence minister today warned of “worrying signs” in Ivory Coast, saying rebel militias there are rebuilding and re-arming in violation of cease-fire accords.

THE AFRICAN Nations Cup begins tomorrow without two of its perennial contenders as well as a clutch of big-name players.

French nationals queued up for flights out of Ivory Coast today as the west African nation appeared on the brink of violent collapse.

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

Rebels battled government forces today for a city in Ivory Coast’s cocoa belt, despite a renewed drive by West African peace envoys trying to negotiate an end to the fighting.