UNITED NATIONS, Dec. 9 (UPI) -- The United Nations recognized Ivorian opposition leader Alassane Ouattara as the victor in last month's presidential contest, the U.N. Security Council declared
Ouattara squared off against incumbent President Laurent Gbagbo in a contest meant to unite a country divided by civil war in 2002.
Both challengers issued rival claims to the presidency, though the international community threw its support behind Ouattara. The Security Council declared that Gbagbo's claims undermined the democratic voice of Ivorians.
"The members of the Security Council condemn in the strongest possible terms any effort to subvert the will of the people or undermine either the integrity of the electoral process or the free and fair elections in Ivory Coast," a Security Council statement read.
Y.J. Choi, the U.N. special envoy to the Ivory Coast, backed the Security Council statement saying in his own declaration that "there was absolutely no doubt" that Ouattara won the election.
The Economic Community of West African States endorsed the declaration calling on Gbagbo to step aside. The African Union reached a similar conclusion, though it suspended the Ivory Coast until the opposition leader takes charge.
Catherine Ashton, the European Union's foreign affairs and security chief, said Europe would consider sanctions "if there isn't a swift resolution to the crisis."
