Laurent Gbagbo was sworn in as Ivory Coast's president today after his election victory was rejected by world leaders but accepted by the army, raising fears of a power struggle in the west African country.
The election commission said Alassane Ouattara had won the November 28 poll with 54.1 per cent but the top legal body, citing alleged intimidation, scrapped hundreds of thousands of votes yesterday and handed victory to Mr Gbagbo.
Mr Gbagbo's swearing in was broadcast live on state television, and comes after the head of the West African country's army declared his continued allegiance.
Mr Ouattara has also been backed in his rejection of Mr Gbagbo's re-election by rebels still running the north after a 2002-03 civil war, and Prime Minister Guillaume Soro, a former rebel himself, who said he would resign.
"I will continue to work with all the countries of the world, but I will never give up our sovereignty," Mr Gbagbo said to cheers and the sound of vuvuzelas after being sworn in.
Residents of the main city Abidjan reported gunfire in several districts overnight and heard heavy weapons fire in Port Bouet, near the airport, but could not say who was involved.
Protests and tyre-burning broke out on Saturday in several towns, including Abidjan and in the northern town of Bouake, but none were on a large scale.
"We want (Ouattara) as president. We don't want Gbagbo any more. We are tired of him," said Bouake resident Samba Diakite.
The African Union said it would send former South African President Thabo Mbeki to try to seek a solution to the crisis.
World leaders, including US President Barack Obama, the head of the United Nations and West African regional body ECOWAS said Mr Ouattara was the clear winner of a poll meant to heal wounds after a decade of division.
Mr Gbagbo's critics have pointed out that Paul Yao N'dre, president of the Constitutional Council which reversed the poll result, is a staunch Gbagbo ally, and Mr Ouattara's party has warned denying him victory would risk throwing the country back into north-south conflict.
Mr Gbagbo's camp has rejected outside pressure, threatening to throw the UN's senior envoy out of the country.
French President Nicolas Sarkozy called Mr Ouattara's win "incontestable." Such comments are likely to play into the hands of Mr Gbagbo, a master at whipping up anti-French sentiment and who accuses the former colonial ruler of backing Ouattara.
The hotly contested run-off was due to cap the protracted process of reunifying a country that was once West Africa's brightest economic prospect.