Ivory Coast President Alassane Ouattara has won the backing of his defeated rival's army chiefs while the EU and the World Bank have pledged financial support to help end the country's prolonged divisions.
Army chiefs who fought for Laurent Gbagbo, including chief of staff general Philippe Mangou, swore loyalty to Mr Ouattara yesterday, a day after his forces captured Mr Gbagbo, who had refused to relinquish power after November elections.
In a boost to his legitimacy, the former military top brass were shown on Mr Ouattara's TCI television station meeting him.
Gen Mangou's aide de camp told Reuters the general had called on all police and security forces to back Mr Ouattara after talks at the new president's headquarters in the main city Abidjan.
US president Barack Obama called Mr Ouattara to congratulate him on assuming his duties and offer support for efforts to unite the country and restore security.
The European Union also urged Mr Ouattara to form a national unity government to help put the war-shattered country back on track and pledged support for the new government.
Mr Gbagbo's arrest ended a four-month power struggle that had descended into all-out conflict, with more than 1,000 killed, more than a million uprooted and the economy of the once shining star of the West African region in tatters.
The arrest has left Mr Ouattara as the sole leader in the world's largest cocoa grower, although analysts say it may not be enough to stop violence and heal deep wounds.
Mr Gbagbo, whom the United Nations said late yesterday was still at Mr Ouattara's Golf Hotel headquarters in Abidjan after saying he had been moved to a secure place earlier, called for an end to the fighting on Monday.
Mr Ouattara - recognised internationally as president - faces the prospect of a divided country and a shattered economy while investigations get underway into some of the atrocities committed by both sides.
Former colonial ruler France has promised €400 million in aid while the European Commission, the executive arm of the 27-nation European Union, announced a €180 million aid package. The World Bank said it was ready to re-engage with Ivory Coast.
"The EU recovery package will notably provide support to ensure basic social needs, such as health, water and sanitation," EU development commissioner Andris Pielbalgs said in a statement.
The €400 million of French aid is intended for emergency relief to the population, the city of Abidjan, the restart of essential public services, economic activities and also the payment of debt arrears to financial institutions, the French ministry of finance said.
World Bank president Robert Zoellick told a conference call he would meet Ivorian officials this week during semi-annual meetings of the bank and IMF in Washington to discuss how to help Ivory coast move beyond its political crisis.
The World Bank froze aid to Ivory Coast in December.
The end to the standoff also could pave the way for a resumption of cocoa exports, the reopening of banks and other institutions previously blocked by sanctions and fighting.
In a televised speech late on Monday, Mr Ouattara called on Ivorians to refrain from reprisals and violence, calling for "a new era of hope."
However, Amnesty International said in a statement issued yesterday that despite Mr Ouattara's call, people perceived as being Gbagbo supporters were at risk of violent reprisals.
"Today in Abidjan, armed men, some wearing military uniforms, have been conducting house-to-house searches in neighbourhoods where real or perceived supporters of Laurent Gbagbo are living, including Yopougon and Koumassi," the rights organisation said.
A Gbagbo aide said only negotiations with Gbagbo's camp would spare further turmoil.
"There must be negotiations, talks with Gbagbo who is the only one who can prevent Ivory Coast from plunging into violence," Pascal Affi N'Guessan, head of Gbagbo's FPI party, told Radio France International.
Reuters