Reuters – Senegal’s leader, Abdoulaye Wade, said on Friday Ivory Coast was “entering a phase of war” after the latest attempt by the African Union to resolve a power struggle by diplomacy failed.

Incumbent leader Laurent Gbagbo rejected an AU proposal at a summit on Thursday offering him a safe exit in return for ceding power to rival Alassane Ouattara, winner of a disputed November poll according to U.N.-certified results.