France, Cote d'Ivoire keep normal commercial relations: Gbagbo

France and Cote d'Ivoire have maintained "normal" commercial ties despite strained relations between French President Jacques Chirac and Cote d'Ivoire's President Laurent Gbagbo, Gbagbo said in an interview shown in local television on Tuesday.

Cote d'Ivoire keeps a "normal" trade with France, Gbagbo told 3A Tele Sud, an African cable television.

"It is true that the two chiefs of state do not understand each other, but the (commercial) activities between the two countries are working better," said Gbagbo, without giving specific numbers.

The Cote d'Ivoire's president is accused by France of "seriously" damaging "the credibility of electoral process" by dismissing heads of two principal media organizations.

Source: Xinhua