The United Nations should consider more sanctions against Ivory Coast's Laurent Gbagbo, who is refusing to step down as president following a disputed election, U.S. Ambassador Susan Rice said on Thursday. The United States has announced new economic sanctions and travel bans against Gbagbo and his close circle in recent days. “We think that kind of pressure is warranted given the continued refusal to accept and act on the will of the Ivorian people,” Rice said. “In the case of the U.N., we have a sanctions regime that exists on Cote d'Ivoire, and to the extent that this remains stalled, I think we are obliged to look at whether it needs to be augmented and invigorated,” Rice said. “I think it's time to begin to discuss that seriously.” The United Nations, the United States, the European Union, and the African Union have recognized Gbagbo's rival, Alassane Ouattara, as the winner of the November 28 election. Ouattara is currently under U.N. protection at an Abidjan hotel that has been surrounded by forced loyal to Gbagbo. The United Nations, which says more than 230 people have been killed in clashes in the West African country that is the world's biggest cocoa producer, fears that the current standoff could re-ignite a civil war. U.N. Security Council sanctions against Ivory Coast have been in place since 2004, following a 2002-2003 civil war, and include an arms embargo, travel bans, asset freezes and restrictions on the export of Ivorian diamonds to prevent so-called blood diamonds from reaching international markets.
