Besieged President Laurent Gbagbo is negotiating an exit path with UN authorities in Abidjan, source of a third of the world's cocoa supplies.

The standoff between global food and confectionery giants Kraft Foods and Cadbury has taken a new twist with rumoured talks of a new takeover bid from chocolate companies Hershey and Ferrero.

The Wall Street Journal, quoting sources said to be familiar with the matter, says high-level talks have been going on for several weeks.

Last week, Cadbury described a hostile $US16.7 cash and shares bid from Kraft as “derisory” but since Kraft’s intentions were made public in September no rival bidders have surfaced – until now.