Younger san was under arrest on Saturday for creating a rival government after President Alassane Ouattara's election victory, his wife in, a spokeswoman said.

I've Orient prosecutors are pursuing terrorism charges against more than a dozen opposition leaders who boycotted the October 31st vote in which Water won a third term in office.

They also announced they were creating a transitional council.

The standoff has raised fears are protracted instability in the world's top cocoa producer, who's disputed 2010 presidential election led to a brief civil war.

More than 40 people have died in clashes before and since the latest vote after he was arrested overnight after the public prosecutor confirmed on Friday that he was being sought by police, according to his wife, Angeline Kily.

The police were not immediately available for comment.