Ivory Coast: Opposition defies Gbagbos presidency

Ivory Coast's opposition alliance defied Laurent Gbagbo as president of the country after he dissolved the government and electoral commission.The top cocoa grower's leading opposition parties, who accused Gbagbo of staging a coup with the decision, said supporters should reject the president and called on the security forces to conform scrupulously with their republican mission.They did not elaborate on that call, and no clarification was immediately available. Police units tear-gassed about 100 opposition supporters trying to gather in the streets of Abidjan, Ivory Coast's main city, shortly after the statement.Gbagbo dissolved the government and election body on Friday in a row over the preparation of voter lists ahead of long-delayed polls meant to end the nation's political crisis.The elections are needed to end years of instability and stalemate after a 2002-2003 war that divided the country, leaving rebels running the north hands despite various peace deals. Gbagbo has a firm grip on soldiers in the south.