Ivory Coast presidential claimant Alassane Ouattara has called for a general strike from Monday until the incumbent, Laurent Gbagbo, relinquishes power.

The world's top cocoa producer has been stuck in a political impasse over the results of a presidential election, which was intended to heal the scars of a 2002-03 war but has instead triggered a violent standoff between Gbagbo and Ouattara.

"I can confirm that we have called for a general strike across the nation from tomorrow," Ouattara's spokesman