ABIDJAN, Ivory Coast — The internationally recognized winner of Ivory Coast’s presidential election said he and his supporters will march on state institutions in a bid to take control, and the European Union agreed on sanctions against the incumbent.
Incumbent leader Laurent Gbagbo claimed victory in November’s balloting and has rebuffed calls from the U.S., the EU, former colonial ruler France and the African Union to step down. The United Nations recognized opposition leader Alassane Ouattara as the winner. Both took oaths of office and set up separate governments last week in the vote’s chaotic aftermath.
After setting up his administration in a hotel, Ouattara on Monday raised the stakes by saying he and his supporters will march on government buildings and state television on Thursday in a high-risk bid to deprive Gbagbo of the trappings of his presidency.
