UN chief backs Ivory Coast peace mission

Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon is backing next week's visit to Ivory Coast by five African presidents, who will try to resolve the impasse over the West African nation's presidential election.

The world's largest cocoa producing nation has been thrown into turmoil since results of the Nov. 28 runoff vote were announced.

The United Nations, the European Union and the African Union have recognized opposition leader Alassane Ouattara as the winner, but incumbent president Laurent Gbagbo has refused to step down.

U.N. spokesman Martin Nesirky said Thursday the secretary-general attaches "great importance" to the mission and urges all Ivorians to cooperate fully and create "a political and security environment conducive to the success of the panel's efforts."