The UN General Assembly has formally recognised Alassane Ouattara as the winner of Ivory Coast's disputed presidential election. The move came ahead of a meeting of West African heads of state to urge President Laurent Gbagbo to step aside. Earlier, the region's central bank handed over control of Ivory Coast's accounts to Ouattara. Reports say the moves are increasing the isolation of Gbagbo, who has insisted that he won the vote. The decision of the Central Bank of West African States could make it difficult for the incumbent president to pay the army. Violence since disputed election in November has left 173 people dead in Ivory Coast. The West African heads of state are scheduled to meet later today in the Nigerian capital Abuja.