BBC News with Iain Purdon.
The Greek Prime Minister, George Papandreou, has criticized the European Union's response to the financial crisis gripping his country, calling it timid. At a meeting in Brussels on Thursday, the EU offered Greece its backing without giving details of any plans to help. Malcolm Brabant reports from Athens.
Mr Papandreou's remarks are bound to raise eyebrows in capitals throughout the European Union. In the last month, the European Union has given its political support. "But in the battle against impressions and the psychology of the market, it appeared to see the least timid," he said, and he went on, "There was a lack of coordination among the various bodies of the EU - the commission, the member states, the European Central Bank and even differences of opinion within these bodies, he said. All this has undermined our credibility even within the European Union. All this has not helped our position in the markets."
The President of Ivory Coast Laurent Gbagbo has dissolved the government and the country's electoral commission. On Thursday, the government suspended its voter registration process indefinitely, citing rising tensions. John James reports.
President Gbagbo accused the head of the Independent Electoral Commission Robert Mambe of failing to be rigorous, neutral and impartial. On Thursday, Mr Mambe refused to resign, denying the allegations and saying no fraud was committed, although he had said there had been some technical problems at the commission. The opposition has accused the president of trying to control every aspect of the electoral process. The president said Prime Minister, a former rebel leader, Guillaume Soro, would remain in his post and asked him to draw up a fresh list of ministers for a new government by Monday.