Mr Gbagbo (L) says he remains the democratically elected leader in the country Tuesday, 28 December 2010
Gbagbo unmoved by Ivorian mission
Mr Gbagbo (L) says he remains the democratically elected leader in the country West African leaders have ended their mission to Ivory Coast, with incumbent Laurent Gbagbo refusing to stand down.
They told Mr Gbagbo he risks military action if he does not cede power to Allasane Ouattara, internationally recognised as the winner of elections.
The dispute has led to widespread unrest in Ivory Coast, with tens of thousands fleeing, more than 170 people killed and reports of torture.
State media has broadcast messages attacking those criticising Mr Gbagbo.
The TV station, controlled by supporters of Mr Gbagbo, indicated that the several million African nationals from neighbouring countries working in Ivory Coast might be at risk if the threats of military intervention continued.
Earlier, a United Nations peacekeeper was wounded in the arm with a machete when his convoy was attacked by a crowd in a Gbagbo stronghold.
The presidents of Benin, Sierra Leone and Cape Verde travelled to Ivorian capital Abidjan as representatives of the Ecowas West African regional grouping.
The visit was being seen as a final chance to urge Mr Gbagbo to peacefully cede to Mr Ouattara - who is currently holed up in a hotel in the capital protected by around 800 UN peacekeepers.
Analysis
Ivory Coast is different from Liberia and Sierra Leone. It is a functioning wealthy country with a strong army, so a force will meet some credible resistance.
Furthermore, it doesn't look as if Ecowas is capable of putting a credible force on the ground: Nigeria is heading towards elections and may not want to put in troops for that long a time; Ghana has elections in 2012 and Senegal has its own problems with dynastic succession. So the key countries that would have to contribute may not have the political stomach and the temerity.
I would have thought an emphasis on sanctions, bank accounts, no-fly zones, seizure of properties - total isolation on the continent - would have been a first step.
But it looks as if there has been a hastiness to demonstrate that "we can deal with Gbagbo" - and in doing so Ecowas, the African Union and the United Nations have actually closed too many doors that limit their options for engagement and manoeuvre.
Few details of the separate talks with the two rivals have emerged, but President Boni Yayi of Benin told reporters: "Everything went well."
But in statements, it appeared that Mr Gbagbo was instead reinforcing his position.
One of his advisors told the BBC Mr Gbagbo was still the democratically elected president and that the Ecowas intervention was part of an "international plot" against him.
Mr Gbagbo's government has also said it will expel the diplomats of any country which stopped recognising the authority of envoys appointed by him.
"The government would like to make it known that, in the light of such decisions, it reserves the right to apply reciprocity in ending the missions of their ambassadors in Ivory Coast," it said in a statement.
Mr Gbagbo has accused the UN - which has some 9,500 peacekee
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