科特迪瓦人民阵线敦促“停止战斗”

The party of deposed¹ Ivory Coast leader Laurent Gbagbo, the Ivorian Popular Front, has appealed for an end to fighting by armed groups.

被免职的科特迪瓦领导人洛朗·巴博所在的政党，象牙海岸人民阵线，要求各武装团体停止战斗。

Party leader Pascal Affi N'Guessan said the "war" had to end in order to allow Ivory Coast a chance to rebuild.

Forces loyal to Alassane Ouattara, who won November's presidential election, captured Mr Gbagbo this week.

Shooting erupted on Saturday morning outside the main city, Abidjan, between Gbagbo and Ouattara supporters.

Pro-Gbagbo fighters had sought refuge in the sprawling²（蔓生的） Yopougon neighbourhood and pro-Ouattara fighters were trying to disarm³ them, local residents said.

Fears of reprisals⁴（报复） among Gbagbo supporters have been stoked by reports of atrocities⁵ committed in the days before pro-Ouattara forces advanced on Abidjan.

At least 1,500 people have been killed in violence since the election while a further million have been forced from their homes in the west African state, which was once seen as a model of development for Africa.

'Chaotic⁶ situation'

"In many places, some of our compatriots are still fighting," said Mr Affi N'Guessan, reading out a statement to the nation, at the Abidjan hotel used as President Ouattara's headquarters.

"The FPI [Ivorian Popular Front] is devastated⁷ by the chaotic situation and presents its sympathies to the families of all those who have died."

Standing⁸ alongside former Foreign Minister Alcide Djedje, he called for a halt to "the escalation⁹（增加，扩大） of violence".

"In the name of peace, let us end the war," he said. "Let us put an end to all forms of belligerence¹⁰（斗争性） and confrontation¹¹. We must give our country the chance for restoration and reconstruction¹²."

International journalists initially¹³ were prevented from hearing the FPI leader's declaration by a pro-Ouattara military officer, an Associated Press news agency correspondent reports.

Only Mr Ouattara's Ivorian Radio and Television, known by its French acronym¹⁴（首字母缩略词） RTI, was first allowed to film the declaration.

However, after journalists telephoned ministers in Mr Ouattara's cabinet complaining, they were allowed to record separately Mr Affi N'Guessan's statement.