I.Coast president imposes election curfew

Voters flocked to polling stations in Ivory Coast on Sunday in a crucial presidential election aiming to end a decade of instability, amid pleas for calm after a build-up marred by deadly violence.Crowds massed peacefully to cast their ballots in the run-off between President Laurent Gbagbo and ex-prime minister Alassane Ouattara, AFP correspondents in several towns reported."It's the life of Ivory Coast that is at stake today," one electoral official told a throng of voters in Abidjan's Adjame district.

Voters flocked to polling stations in Ivory Coast Sunday in a crucial presidential election aiming to end a decade of instability, amid pleas for calm after a build-up marred by deadly violence.Crowds massed peacefully to cast their ballots in the run-off between President Laurent Gbagbo and ex-prime minister Alassane Ouattara, AFP correspondents in several towns reported, after the polls opened at 7:00 am (0700 GMT)."It's the life of Ivory Coast that is at stake today," one electoral official told a throng of voters in Abidjan's Adjame district.

Hundreds of residents of Ivory Coast's financial capital streamed into bus stations Saturday to flee deadly post-election violence in Abidjan.Families laden with bags crowded into Youpogon bus station in the east and Adjame bus station in the north of Abidjan, saying they were fleeing to their native villages.Adjame and Yopougon were this week hit by violent confrontations between forces loyal to strongman Laurent Gbagbo and rebels supporting Alassane Ouattara, internationally recognised as Ivorian president after a disputed election in November.

International mediator Thabo Mbeki was huddling with Ivory Coast's presidential rivals here Sunday to head off an outbreak of political violence after both men swore themselves in as president following a disputed election.The former South African president stepped in as world powers called for a peaceful resolution to the November 28 election, which was meant to end a decade of conflict but has been marred by deadly violence.

Two people were killed in heavy gunfire by security forces in Ivory Coast on Saturday in a hardening standoff over a disputed election as President Laurent Gbagbo clung to power.Gbagbo has defied international calls to step aside despite the United Nations and other world powers recognising his rival Alassane Ouattara as the country's new president.Residents said security forces opened fire overnight in the main city Abidjan during clashes between local supporters of the rival candidates from last Sunday's election.

Ivory Coast voted on Sunday in a decisive presidential election aiming to end a decade of instability after a build-up marred by deadly violence. Polls opened at 7:00 am (GMT) and were to close at 5:00 pm across the west African country where some 5.7 million voters are eligible to vote, choosing between President Laurent Gbagbo and ex-prime minister Alassane Ouattara.

Ivory Coast seeks to end a decade of conflict and instability on Sunday when it votes in the decisive round of a tense presidential election marred by deadly violence.Polls were due to open at 7:00 am (GMT) and close at 5:00 pm across the west African country where some 5.7 million voters are eligible to vote, choosing between President Laurent Gbagbo and former prime minister Guillaume Soro.

Ivory Coast seeks to end a decade of conflict and instability on Sunday when it votes in the decisive round of a tense presidential election marred by deadly violence.Polls were due to open at 7:00 am (GMT) and close at 5:00 pm across the west African country where some 5.7 million voters are eligible to vote, choosing between President Laurent Gbagbo and former prime minister Guillaume Soro.