London -- Canada and Britain announced Thursday that they have rejected the authority of self-proclaimed President Laurent Gbagbo to make any decision regarding their representatives . Britain noted it has recognized Alassane Ouattara as the democratically elected president of Ivory Coast , the Foreign and Commonwealth Office said . `` It recognizes the legitimacy of statements made by or on behalf of his government , '' the statement said . `` The British government does not accept the validity of statements made by others . '' A spokeswoman for Britain 's Foreign and Commonwealth Office said the statement was issued `` in response to reports in the press that our high commissioner has been de-recognized . '' Britain 's representative to Ivory Coast , Nick Westcott , lives in Ghana , she said . Canada 's representative was also de-recognized by Gbagbo 's representatives . But Canada 's minister of foreign affairs , Lawrence Cannon , said in a statement that he has not received a request from `` the legitimate government of Mr. Alassane Ouattara '' to end the ambassador 's functions in Ivory Coast . `` Canada does not recognize Laurent Gbagbo 's claim to government , '' Cannon said . `` As such his request is illegitimate . We will continue to urge Laurent Gbagbo to cede power to President Ouattara who has been recognized internationally as the legitimate president of Cote D'Ivoire following the November 28 elections . '' Independent election observers and the international community have recognized Ouattara as the winner of last November 's runoff election . But Gbagbo , who has called for a recount , refuses to step down .
Britain says it has recognized Announcement as president of Ivory Coast . Official : `` Britain does not recognize Laurent Gbagbo 's claim to government '' Laurent Gbagbo 's comes after Canadian , Canadian envoys were rejected by Laurent Gbagbo 's officials .