The International Criminal Court's chief prosecutor said Thursday he would prosecute those responsible if deadly violence breaks out in Ivory Coast after its disputed election.

"If they start to kill people then it's a crime and we will pursue them," prosecutor Luis Moreno-Ocampo told France 24 news channel. "No-one can commit crime in Ivory Coast because of elections."

Clashes erupted Thursday in the West African state's biggest city Abidjan as troops loyal to one of the two self-declared presidents mobilised to halt a bid by protesters to storm state television headquarters.