Abidjan, Ivory Coast (CNN) -- Alassane Ouattara, the man widely recognized as the Ivory Coast's legitimate leader following a November 28 presidential run-off election, has called for a strike beginning Monday to force incumbent Laurent Gbagbo out of power, Ouattara's spokesman said.
The call for the general strike comes amid mounting pressure by the international community on the defiant Gbagbo to step down.
The Ivory Coast's Independent Electoral Commission has named Ouattara, an opposition leader, as the winner. But its Constitutional Council invalidated those results and declared that incumbent President Laurent Gbagbo won.
The country has been paralyzed by a political stalemate, and scores of people have died in violence there. International powers, such as the United States, the United Nations and the African Union, have recognized Ouattara as the winner and are urging Gbagbo to cede power. Gbagbo has not stepped down.
About 14,000 Ivory Coast residents escaping their country's political instability and violence have fled to eastern Liberia in what has been an arduous journey, a United Nations refugee agency said Saturday.
A few deaths have been reported among the refugees, including a child who drowned during the crossing of the Cestos River into Butuo. Observers saw malnourished children and people with malaria, respiratory infections and diarrhea. CNN
