Mr Ouattara now controls the main cocoa-exporting port of San Pedro, and wants to restart the trade.

But his troops are still not in control of the main city Abidjan, where his rival Laurent Gbagbo remains holed up in the presidential residence.

Aid agencies are warning of a deepening humanitarian crisis in Abidjan.

Residents of the city are without basic amenities such as running water and power, and food supplies are running low.

Mr Ouattara, widely recognised as the winner of a presidential election last November, told Ivorian TV he was taking measures to get the economy back up and running.

He said the central bank will begin reopening its branches, and the army will secure delivery of medical supplies to hospitals and food to markets.