Ivory Coast’s President Alassane Ouattara has invited his rival, former President Henri Konan Bédié, for talks following violence sparked by his controversial third-term win.
Opposition leaders boycotted last month’s vote and vowed to set up a transitional government that would organize fresh elections.
They said it was illegal for Mr Ouattara to stand for a third term as it broke rules on term limits, but supporters of the president say a constitutional change in 2016 means his first term effectively did not count.
On Monday the constitutional court confirmed Mr Ouattara’s win. He received 94.27% of votes. No appeal against the presidential election is now possible, according to Ivorian law.
President Ouattara invited Mr Bédié to a “meeting in the next few days for a open and sincere dialogue to help to restore confidence”, the AFP news agency reports.
“I would like to reaffirm my availability, today like yesterday, for a sincere and constructive dialogue with the opposition, while respecting the constitutional order,” he was quoted by Reuters news agency as saying.
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Several opposition figures including former Prime Minister Pascal Affi N’Guessan face charges of terrorism and sedition after rejecting President Ouattara’s re-election.
At least 40 people have been killed in election-related clashes since August.