New York, Rabi Al-Awwal 01, 1432, Feb 04, 2011, SPA -- The UN Security Council on Friday called for a peaceful and prompt resolution of the political stalemate in Ivory Coast, where strongman Laurent Gbagbo is still clinging to power. "Council members underscore their strong desire that the crisis be resolved peacefully, rapidly and on conditions that respect the will of the Ivory Coast people," said Brazil Ambassador Maria Luiza Ribeiro Viotti, the council president. Viotti reiterated previous calls by the 15-nation council for Ivory Coast to resolve the conflict over November's presidential elections that were claimed by Gbagbo and his internationally-recognized rival Alassane Ouattara. --SPA 23:31 LOCAL TIME 20:31 GMT www.spa.gov.sa/861995