West African c. bank governor to be replaced over Ivory Coast

Reuters, BAMAKO | Sat Jan 22, 2011

(Reuters) - The governor of the West African regional central bank will be replaced after failing to cut off funds to Ivory Coast's Laurent Gbagbo as ministers had requested, according to a declaration from the regional heads of state on Saturday.

Mr. Philippe Henri Dacoury-Tabley

World powers and African states have been pressuring Gbagbo to cede power after a November presidential election that U.N.-certified results showed he lost to rival Alassane Ouattara, with the regional bank last month announcing it would no longer accept Gbagbo's signature.

"The conference is concerned about the impact of the non-application of this decision on the stability of the economic, financial and monetary system of the union," according to the declaration.

"The conference has taken note of the resignation of Mr. Philippe Henri Dacoury-Tabley from his post as Governor of the Central Bank of West African States," it continued, adding the current vice-governor would take over until a permanent replacement is found.

Dacoury-Tabley is an Ivorian, and is believed to be a close ally of Gbagbo's.

The declaration said Ouattara had been invited to propose a permanent replacement for the central bank governor role ahead of the next meeting of conference heads of state.

(Reporting by Tiemoko Diallo; writing by Richard Valdmanis; Editing by Matthew Jones)

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