Ivory Coast President Alassane Ouattara vowed Monday that the country will not be "intimidated by terrorists", a day after jihadist gunmen stormed three beachside  hotels in an attack that left 18 dead.

"Ivory Coast is standing up, standing up to fight the cowards and protect its people", he said in a statement broadcast on radio and television, vowing that the "the Ivory Coast will not allow itself to be intimidated by terrorists."