Cote d'Ivoire president faces ultimatum to resign

Laurent Gbagbo, Cote d'Ivoire's incumbent president, has been told he must stand down or face "legitimate force" by the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) following last month's disputed presidential election, Al Jazeera reported.

The 15-nation body said on Friday that it would convene a meeting of the countries' defence chiefs of staff to plan for potential action, should Gbagbo not back down.

ECOWAS, which made the statement following a summit held in Abuja, Nigeria's capital, said it would also send a special envoy to Cote d'Ivoire.

Cote d'Ivoire is locked in an election standoff in which 200 people have been killed after Gbagbo claimed victory in the presidential election on November 28 which the UN and many foreign governments say was won by rival Alassane Ouattara.

Ouattara said on Friday that he had asked the International Criminal Court to investigate post-election violence in the country.

"Indeed, violence has resurfaced in our cities and our neighbourhoods. During the curfew, people were abducted and executed by elements of the Republican Guard ... backed by mercenaries and foreign militia," Ouattara said in a statement.

"In view of the seriousness of the facts, I asked the International Criminal Court to send a mission to our country in the coming days," he said.

Officials at the Hague-based court were not immediately available for comment.