(CNN) -- After days of heavy fighting, forces loyal to Ivory Coast's Laurent Gbagbo laid down their arms Tuesday, and the self-declared president was negotiating the terms of his surrender, his foreign minister said. Calm was reported Tuesday afternoon in Abidjan, the West African nation's largest city and the center of the battle between Gbagbo's military and those loyal to his rival, Alassane Ouattara, who is recognized internationally as the legitimate president. "We must now do what we can do to have lasting peace," said Alcide Djedje, the foreign minister, who participated in talks at the French ambassador's residence in Abidjan.
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NEW: Man identified as Gbagbo tells station he won't recognize Ouattara win
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Gbagbo's forces laid down their arms, his foreign minister says
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A U.N. official says Laurent Gbagbo has asked for U.N. protection
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The U.N. envoy to Ivory Coast says combat is over
"Tragically, the violence that we are seeing could have been averted had @placeholder respected the results of last year's presidential election," Obama said.
@placeholder's forces entered Abidjan on Thursday after an offensive that swept across the country.