Ouattara: Remove Gbagbo by force

ABIDJAN, Ivory Coast, Jan. 17 (UPI) -- The winner of the Ivory Coast presidential election says incumbent Laurent Gbagbo, who refuses to cede power, is stalling so he can gather arms.

President-elect Alassane Ouattara, the recognized winner of November's election, told the Voice of America that Gbagbo is stalling for time to purchase weapons and ammunition and recruit mercenaries and militias so he can stay in office.

Ouattara has rejected Gbagbo's appeal for negotiations and said Gbagbo lost the election and must cede power. The European Union, the African Union and the United States recognize Ouattara as the winner of November's election.

Ouattara said if Gbagbo won't leave office, he should be forcibly removed. So far, sanctions by the AU, the EU and the United States have failed to get Gbagbo to step down.

A Gbagbo spokesman Sunday said new EU sanctions don't intimidate his government.

The United States has frozen Gbagbo's U.S. assets and barred Americans from doing business with his government. West Africa's central bank said it is blocking Gbagbo's access to Ivory Coast's assets.

The United Nations said at least 247 people have died in violence since the Nov. 28 election.