The new strongman of Cote d'Ivoire, General Robert Guei, said on Saturday that he was negotiating with France on the evacuation of the toppled president of the country Henri Konan Bedie to France.

Agence France-Presse quoted Guei as saying that he hoped that Bedie could leave Cote d'Ivoire as early as Saturday morning.

He said that Bedie had been brought to the airport by a helicopter at dawn and a plane would pick him up.

However, the French embassy in Abidjan denied that France would arrange an immediate departure of President Bedie, although France would negotiate with the rebels to ensure his safe evacuation.

Reports from Abidjan said that a battalion of the French navy has taken control of the airport of the city and driven the rebel soldiers from the airport.

But the reports were denied by French diplomats in Abidjan, who said that a military intervention by French troops is " impracticable."

France has 550 soldiers permanently deployed in Cote d'Ivoire.