UNITED NATIONS, Jan. 20 (UPI) -- There are grave concerns about the potential for genocide and war crimes in the Ivory Coast, a U.N. special adviser warned.
Incumbent President Laurent Gbagbo has refused to step down after the international community formally recognized his rival Alassane Ouattara as the winner of a November presidential contest in the Ivory Coast.
A flare up of political violence following the vote prompted Francis Deng, the U.N. special envoy on the prevention of genocide, to warn that the situation could get out of control in the Ivory Coast.
"We remain gravely concerned about the possibility of genocide, crimes against humanity, war crimes and ethnic cleansing in the Ivory Coast," he said in a statement.
He cautioned, however, that a warning isn't the same as a declaration of genocide.
His comments followed a unanimous decision at the U.N. Security Council to invoke a Chapter VII mandate for the Ivory Coast allowing the use of force.
"We believe that urgent steps should be taken, in line with the 'responsibility to protect,' to avert the risk of genocide and ensure the protection of all those at risk of mass atrocities," Deng said.
African leaders, for their part, said they would consider military action if they can't convince Gbagbo to hand over power in a peaceful fashion.
The International Committee of the Red Cross said its teams were on standby, having already provided emergency assistance to hundreds of injured people in the Ivory Coast.
