In a strong message to his critics in foreign capitals, which have largely refused to recognise his victory, he refused to step down and urged his Ivorian opponent to leave the besieged hotel where his shadow government is holed up.
"I won the election with 51.45% of the vote. I am president of Ivory Coast. I thank the Ivorians who renewed their faith in me," Gbagbo told state television viewers in the much-anticipated speech.
Both Gbagbo and long-time rival Alassane Ouattara claimed victory after the November 28 poll, triggering a violent political dispute.
Ouattara blamed for strife
The United Nations and most nations recognise Ouattara as president, but Gbagbo clings to power.
"The troubles we see today in Ivory Coast are caused by the refusal of my opponent to submit himself to the laws, rules and procedures that apply in our country," he continued, blaming Ouattara and the international community.
"They make war on us not because we suppressed the democratic expression of Ivorians, but because they deny the Ivorian people's sovereign right to choose its own leaders, respect its institutions and live in a free country."
The isolated 65-year-old veteran said Ouattara had declared himself victor based on false results from a junior electoral body, in breach of the Ivorian constitution, whereas Ouattara's victory was endorsed by the Constitutional Council.
"It is based on these results that the international community declared war on the Ivory Coast. That is not acceptable," he declared.
Panel for post-election crisis
Nevertheless, Gbagbo said he did not want to see "the blood of a single Ivorian spilled" and suggested the international community deploy a panel to study the crisis, although seemingly not to question his purported victory.
"I am therefore ready - respecting the constitution, Ivorian laws and the rules that we freely set for ourselves - to welcome a committee of evaluation on the post-election crisis in Ivory Coast," he declared.
The panel would be led by an African Union envoy and include representatives of the West African bloc Ecowas, West African monetary union, UN, Arab League, United States, European Union, Russia and China, he said.
There would also be "Ivorians of goodwill" on the panel, he added.
Urges restraint
Gbagbo insisted Ouattara could leave the Golf Hotel, a waterfront resort on the outskirts of Abidjan where he has been besieged since declaring himself the president, protected by a unit of 800 UN peacekeepers.
"I launch an appeal for all the personalities that still find themselves in the Golf Hotel to head back to their homes.
"No-one forced them to take refuge in that hotel. No-one will stop them leaving. They are free to move," he said.
"I call on Ivorians to show restraint," he added, promising his supporters that the world would eventually agree to his demand that UN and French troops be pulled out of the country.
"We made this request through diplomatic channels and we expect to obtain satisfaction through these channels, for our sovereignty," he said.
"I ask the young to stay calm. UNOCI and the French forces will leave Ivory Coast but we don't want needless deaths. We all have painful memories of November 2004," he said, referring to anti-French riots that left 50 dead.
http://www.news24.com/Africa/News/Gbagbo-I-am-Ivory-Coast-president-20101221