France threatens Ivory Coast leader with international sanctions

France has given Ivory Coast's leader, Laurent Gbagbo, and his wife until Monday to cede power or face targeted international sanctions, as concern mounts that the country could be heading back to civil war. President Nicolas Sarkozy described Gbagdo's refusal to accept defeat in November's election run-off as "a scandal" and warned that he could be called to the international criminal court for allowing his troops to shoot opposition protesters. On Thursday security forces shot dead at least 10 demonstrators backing Alassane Ouattara, whose victory in the presidential poll has been recognised by the UN security council, the EU and the African Union. Sarkozy's threat is likely to infuriate Gbagbo, who resents interference from the former colonial power, as is the mention of his wife. Simone Gbagbo, vice-president of the ruling Ivorian Popular Front party, is a controversial figure in Ivory Coast, and is reported to exert considerable influence over her husband's decisions. "There is no other option for Mr Gbagbo but to rapidly leave a position of power that he is usurping," Sarkozy said today, following an EU summit in Brussels. "Laurent Gbagbo and his wife have their fate in their hands. If Laurent Gbagbo has not quit before the end of the week, the post he holds in violation of the will of the Ivorian people, they will be put on the sanctions list by name." Separately, the EU called on the leaders of Ivory Coast's military, which has so far remained loyal to Gbagbo, to defect to the side of Ouattara, who has established a parallel government in a hotel in Abidjan guarded by UN peacekeepers. Ouattara is also being protected by fighters from the New Forces rebel movement, which adds to the threat of conflict.