African Union mediator rejected by Ivory Coast election winner Ouattara

Ouattara is internationally recognised as the winner of last year's presidential election against the incumbent President, Laurent Gbagbo.

In a statement, Ouattara said Brito was an inappropriate choice for mediator due to his "personal ties" with Gbagbo, AFP news agency reported.He said he "deeply regrets not having been consulted, nor having been approached" about Brito's appointment.

He cited Brito's "personal relationship and his political connection, known to everyone in Ivory Coast, with the incumbent President Laurent Gbagbo."

The statement added that "Moreover, this decision does not conform to the expressed will to appoint a former head of state in this function. Consequently, the Presidency of the Republic of Ivory Coast rejects Jose Brito as the AU high representative."

Earlier in March the African Union recognised Ouattara as the legitimate winner of the November election and endorsed a plan for him to put in place an inclusive government.

Talks between the two men were to have begun on Thursday but violence between the two sides has flared, with 52 killed in Abidjan alone in the past week, according to the UN.

In the meantime, several thousand supporters of Gbagbo have held a large overnight rally in the capital, Abidjan, on Saturday.

The UN refugee agency says as many as one million people may have fled violence in the country between supporters of the rivals.