Cote d'Ivoire's incumbent Laurent Gbagbo's camp said the French ambassador to the West African country was no longer accredited, media reports quoted the camp's spokesperson as saying on Saturday.
France, along with the international community including the African Union (AU), the European Union (EU), the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and the United States, has recognized Gbagbo's rival Alassane Ouattara as president of Cote d'Ivoire, and has since urged Gbagbo to cede power.
After the presidential run-off held on Nov. 28 last year, Ouattara was declared winner by the electoral commission while the Constitutional Council, which has the final say on the results of the poll, said Gbagbo won the vote.
Gbagbo was sworn in as the new president of the West African country by the Constitutional Council, and Ouattara also swore himself in as the president.
Gbagbo has refused to step down, and retains control of government buildings, state television and the security forces. Ouattara is firm in his refusal to speak with Gbagbo until the incumbent cedes power.
The AU mediator and Kenyan Prime Minister Raila Odinga on Friday ended his week-long mission to Cote d'Ivoire without making any breakthrough. Gbagbo has rejected Odinga as mediator, saying he is "biased."