Ivory Coast: Mediators flee Gbagbo militia

A reduced delegation met with Ivory Coast's internationally recognised President yesterday after two of the mediators sent to resolve the country's political crisis pulled out citing security threats.

Blaise Compaoré, the leader of Burkina Faso, and James Victor Gbeho, the chairman of the Economic Community of West African States, pulled out after the Young Patriots, a violent youth militia, descended on the airport. The militia is aligned with Laurent Gbagbo, who has ruled Ivory Coast for 10 years and is refusing to leave office.