By Tim Cocks and Loucoumane Coulibaly
ABIDJAN (Reuters) - Alassane Ouattara, Ivory Coast's internationally recognised president, has rejected the African Union's nomination of an envoy to negotiate an end to the crisis in the country, questioning his impartiality.
The AU on Saturday appointed Jose Brito, Cape Verde's former foreign minister, to oversee talks meant to result in incumbent Laurent Gbagbo stepping down in favour of Ouattara, who would lead a unity government to end a crisis that has pushed the country to the brink of war.
But Ouattara's camp overnight complained it had not been consulted on the AU nomination, adding that Brito was unsuitable as he had personal and professional relations with Gbagbo and was not a former president, as had been expected.
"As a result, the president of the republic of Ivory Coast rejects Mr Jose Brito as the AU's High Representative," Ouattara's office said in a statement.
A spokesman for Gbabgo's camp was not immediately available.
The AU has been seeking a peaceful solution to the row over the November 28 election, which has led to violence that has killed hundreds and forced over a million people from their homes, raising the prospect of a resumption of the 2002-2003 civil war.
But few have pinned their hopes on the body making a breakthrough as a series of previous envoys have failed, and both sides are deeply entrenched, with Ouattara confined to a hotel protected by U.N. peacekeepers and Gbagbo accusing foreigners of meddling in his country's internal affairs.
FIGHTING
The fiercest fighting has seen insurgents take control of swathes of northern Abidjan in Abobo neighbourhood, one of several pro-Ouattara areas the U.N. has accused Gbagbo's forces of firing heavy weapons into. His camp denies the charge.
Residents in Abobo said two shells were fired into the neighbourhood on Sunday morning but it was not clear who was involved.
Residents in Angre, a upper-class neighbourhood near Abobo, also said there had heard clashes there late on Saturday.
Rebels, who have controlled the north of the country since the 2002-03 civil war and declared allegiance to Ouattara, have also pushed south in the west of the country in the latest turmoil.
Gbagbo's youth leader is seeking to recruit followers into the country's armed forces and on Saturday thousands of his supporters gathered at Gbagbo's presidential palace in a show of support.
After initially being the focus of much international attention, Ivory Coast's crisis has slipped down the international agenda due to the unrest in North Africa and the Middle East.
But West African nations last week called on the U.N., which has some 12,000 peacekeepers in Ivory Coast, to take a tougher stance and also impose sanctions on Gbagbo's camp.
The World Health Organisation said health conditions were deteriorating in the country and appealed for $1.9 million to maintain essential medical staff and supplies.
(Additional reporting by Aaron Maasho in Addis Ababa; writing by David Lewis; editing by Andrew Roche)