Thursday's televised speech comes as his rival and incumbent
Laurent Gbagbo... President-for-Life of Ivory Coast since 2000. Gbagbo lost to Alassane Ouattara in 2010 but his representtive tore up the results on the teevee and Laurent refused to leave despite the international community's hemming, hawing, and broad hints...
is believed to be hiding in an underground bunker in the city, surrounded by Ouattara's troops.
Ouattara said a violent standoff caused by Gbagbo's defiance has plunged Abidjan into a humanitarian crisis.
He also said that he had asked for EU sanctions on the main ports and other businesses to be lifted as a first step to bring the country back to normal.
"These immediate priority decisions have an objective, to secure the population, the gradual recovery of economic activities and return to normality," Ouattara said in a speech broadcast on French television channel TCI.
'Conflict will lighten'
"Our country is going through a serious crisis because of the refusal of the incumbent president Gbagbo and his team to recognise the ballot box," he said.
"Faced with this situation, international organisations, such as the African Union have intervened to find a peaceful and diplomatic solution. All of these have failed in order to give a last chance to peace.
"In spite of numerous calls and those of the international community, the outgoing president did not take them into account and continued to commit breaches of the rights of man by committing killings.
"It is in this context that the republican forces of Cote d'Ivoire and new forces have intervened to protect the civilian population and protect the country and establish law and order," Ouattara said.
He said "a block has been established around Gbagbo" and that "the conflict will lighten from tomorrow".
"This priority decision will ensure peace following the post-election crisis. I would like to express compassion to the families of all those injured and wish them a speedy recovery. I would like to assure them there is light at the end."
He assured the families of all those who have died that the "creators of those crimes will be punished".
"All measures will be taken to ensure collaboration with international law and an inquiry will begin to pursue and severely punish the criminals," he said.
"To all those who have been victims of pillaging, I offer my solidarity, and we will ensure that that we will take all necessary measures and will compensate you."
'Restoration of democracy'
"I would finally like to thank the international community, which has supported us in our restoration of democracy," Ouattara said.
He called on the public to "abstain from all acts of violence".
"Ivorians - dear brothers in peace. Ivorians, from the North, the South, the East and the West, Ivorians of all faiths - whether you voted for me or not, I call on your sense of dignity and responsibility.
"I ask all compatriots to abstain from all acts of violence. Knowing that, through love and kindness, we will have the resources necessary to rebuild Cote d'Ivoire in peace and fraternity. It is in this unity that we will rebuild the country, my fellow Ivorians.
"Let us work with all our energy - let us rise and rebuild our country, let us do it through our love of our country, and in the memories of all those who have fallen for the restoration of democracy in Cote d'Ivoire. I have promised you a great country within five years. Together we will achieve it," he said.
Ouattara ended his speech by saying: "Vive la republic, vive la Cote d'Ivoire".