The party of Cote d'Ivoire's Alassane Ouattara called on citizens to go on strike till Laurent Gbagbo's stepping down, media reports said Sunday.

Peacekeeping personnels of the United Nations Operation in Cote d'Ivoire patrol in Abidjan, Cote d'Ivoire, on Dec. 25 2010. Cote d'Ivoire's Laurent Gbagbo has rejected a warning by the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) that force might be used to make him give up power, media reports said Saturday. [Zhao Yingquan/Xinhua]

Cote d'Ivoire's opposition coalition Rally of Houphouetists for Democracy and Peace party (RHDP) issued a statement urging people to go on strike from Monday, reports said.

Cote d'Ivoire has been trapped in a political impasse since the landmark presidential run-off held on Nov. 28. Both the incumbent Gbagbo and opposition leader Ouattara claimed victory and swore themselves in as president of the country, and formed their respective government.

Gbagbo was backed by the country's Constitutional Council, while Ouattara has the support of the electoral commission.