France Issues Ultimatum To Cote D'Ivoire Gbagbo

France Issues Ultimatum To Cote D'Ivoire Gbagbo

French President Nicolas Sarkozy has given Ivory Coast incumbent Laurent Gbagbo until ‘the end of the week' to stand down or face EU sanctions.

Mr. Gbagbo has rejected international calls to stand down since last month's presidential election.

Both Gbagbo and opposition leader, Alassane Ouattara, claimed victory, sparking fears of renewed civil war.

“The fate of Laurent Gbagbo and his wife lies in their own hands ," Mr. Sarkozy said on Friday.

''If, by the end of the week, they have not left the office they hold... in violation of the will of the Ivorian people, they will feature by name on the [EU] sanctions list''.

A senior US official has also been quoted as saying that Mr. Gbagbo has been given days to stand down or face travel and financial sanctions.

The unnamed official said Mr. Gbagbo and his family have " multiple homes in multiple countries" he could go to but which he could lose access to if sanctions are imposed.

On Thursday, at least 20 people were reported killed as Mr. Ouattara's backers tried to march on the headquarters of state TV and clashed with troops loyal to Mr. Gbagbo.

Most of Thursday's violence was reported in Abidjan , but on Thursday afternoon it appeared to be spreading, with reports emerging of unrest elsewhere.

A spokeswoman for Mr. Gbagbo said 10 protesters and 10 members of the security forces had died.

Officials from Mr. Ouattara's camp put the number of dead at 30 or more.

The UN Security Council warned that all sides would be held accountable under international law for any attacks against civilians.

The UN, as well as African and Western leaders, has backed Mr. Ouattara as the rightful election winner.

Mr. Ouattara has been staying at a hotel in Abidjan since the disputed second round on 28 November.

In Washington , State Department spokesman, PJ Crowley said a combined delegation from the African Union and the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) would be in Abidjan soon "to continue to encourage President Gbagbo to step aside" .

Both organisations have already suspended Ivory Coast until Mr. Gbagbo cedes power.

The UN has about 10,000 peacekeepers in Ivory Coast .

BBC/Yinka